After a year of rebuilding and recruiting, Coach Micah Cewe, entering his third year as head coach for the Saints Volleyball program, is looking for the 2007 AU volleyball season to improve drastically. "Losing is always tough, but we have made some changes for the upcoming season and I believe with the hard work put in during the off season and with the incoming recruits, we have will be a great combination for success," Cewe said. "I am really excited with the group of student-athletes we have coming back and entering our program this season."

The desire to work hard, compete against nationally ranked teams, and learn how to win in close situations, along with team chemistry and bonding will be the key for success for this year's AU team. The Saints return seven players from the 2006 season, along with 10 incoming freshmen and one junior college transfer. "I am really excited with the group of women we are going to have for the upcoming season and we are ready to start winning again," Cewe said.

The lone senior returning is Melissa Daniels, a middle hitter from Miles, Iowa. Daniels completed her first two years at Clinton Community College where she was an all around player for the program. Last year, she played as a middle hitter and libero at times, but this year will mainly play the front row as a hitter.

Juniors returning to the Saints include Jenny Buelow, Kristin Orozco and Aubree Rhoades. Abigail Adams will also be a major addition to the team as a transfer.

Buelow, an outside hitter from Center Point, Iowa, has claimed numerous awards and honors after her first two years with the Saints. In 2005, she was a unanimous selection to the NAIA All-Region VII First Team and was also selected to the All-Midwest Classic Conference First Team. In 2006, after overcoming early injuries, Buelow managed to make the NAIA All-Region Second Team and Midwest Classic Conference First Team. Orozco, a setter from Plainfield, Illinois,, will step in and once again take the reins as the team's main setter. Orozco was selected to the All-Midwest Classic Conference Honorable Mention Team for the last two seasons, voted by her teammates as Most Outstanding Player, and expects to compete as the league's top setter this year.

Rhoades, an outside hitter from Fulton, Illinois,, will also add much needed talent at the outside position. Rhoades led the Saints last year with 381 total kills and 372 total digs. A team co-captain in 2006, Rhoades was an Honorable Mention All-Midwest Classic player and received the Team Player Award by her teammates. Adams, a libero from Fulton, Illinois, who most recently played at Black Hawk College, finished her high school career at Fulton High School where she was named defensive player and tabbed a second team All-Conference selection. As a member of the Black Hawk volleyball team, she racked up the awards in her two seasons as she was named team MVP, All-Conference, All-Region, and Defensive Player of the Year for her league.

Sophomores returning to the Saints include Michelle Kramer, Breelyn McMahon and Alisha Parker. Ashley Keesy will also join the Saints. Kramer, a defensive specialist from Fulton, Illinois,, already has one year of experience in the back row for the Saints. McMahon, a front row hitter from Princeton, Illinois, who played at numerous positions in the front row last year, is looking to specialize as a right side hitter this year for the Saints. Parker, a middle hitter from Camanche, Iowa, played middle hitter for the Saints at times last year, is expecting to compete for that starting position. Keesy, a student-athlete from Rock Island, Illinois and transfer from Black Hawk College will help assist Cewe and the volleyball staff.

The 10 new freshmen this season for the Saints include Piper Coakley, Lauren Fairbert, Kayla Fussner, Tess Hackett, Kelsay McCausland, Samantha Moller, Amy Olson, Tara Van Zuiden, Beth Wenzel and Leslie White. Coakley, a defensive specialist from Colona, Illinois, attended United Township High School and played volleyball all four years for the Panthers and claimed Dispatch All Metro Honorable Mention honors in 2006. Fairbert, a defensive specialist from Parker High School in Janesville, Wisconsin, was a two time All-Conference selection and a two year team captain.

Fussner, a setter from Washington, Illinois, was co-captain for her team last year, a 2nd Team All-Mid Illini Conference player and an All Tournament selection at the Macomb Tournament. Hackett, a setter Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, was a two time Second Team All Conference selection, Cincinnati Enquirer All City Honorable Mention selection and team captain during her senior campaign. McCausland, a middle hitter from Camanche, Iowa, was a two-time All-Conference selection, two-time All-Area selection, Big East Conference MVP, Clinton Herald Player of the Year, and an Honorable Mention All-State selection her senior year for the Indians.

Moller, a libero from Silvis, Illinois, was a two-time All-Metro selection from United Township High School, a Western Big Six First Team All Conference selection and served her team as a team captain. Olson, a right side hitter and setter, from Coal Valley, Illinois, comes to Ashford from Moline High School where she was a two time varsity letter winner and was named to the Western Big Six All-Conference team, Academic All-Conference team, and Dispatch All-Metro team her senior year. Olson also helped lead her high school team to a first place finish in conference her junior and senior years as well as back-to-back first place finishes in regionals. Van Zuiden, a libero from Fulton High School, was a three-year varsity player for the Steamers helping them advance to sectionals in 2006. Wenzel, a libero from Hall High School in Spring Valley, Illinois, was a two time All-Conference selection, an IHSA All-Academic team member, and served her teammates as team captain. White, a middle hitter from Muncie Burris Laboratory School in Muncie, Indiana, has claimed numerous high school awards and honors. White, who was named first team All-State following her senior year, earned 11 letters, including four in volleyball, was a member of four straight conference championship teams, won four straight state tournament championships and won a national title with her club team.

The Saints volleyball team is anxious to begin the season with the talent of the returning student-athletes as well as the incoming class of student-athletes. The players and coaches are working hard to make this a successful and outstanding season.