WEBSTER GROVES – Webster University is set to open its 37th season of intercollegiate volleyball in a little more than 24 hours as they begin their unique 2021 spring season by traveling down Big Bend Blvd. for a 1 p.m. St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match against Fontbonne University on Saturday, Feb. 13. The spring will serve as Webster's competition season after its traditional fall season was postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

When the Gorloks take the court against the Griffins to open the 2020-21 campaign, it would have been a total of 462 days since the Webster volleyball team last took the court against Westminster (Mo.) College in the semifinals of the 2019 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in Greenville, Ill.

"I think, like everyone else, COVID has adjusted everything we've done. We are all trying to figure out what's happening day-by-day and trying to do what we can to keep everyone healthy and safe," Webster head volleyball coach Merry Graf said. "There have been many adjustments this season, however, we're excited to be back in the gym and playing the sport we love."

The Gorloks, who were tabbed to share the regular season SLIAC title in 2020-21 with both Greenville and Westminster in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, come into this season welcoming back two starters and four other players that saw significant action on the 2019 team that posted a 17-12 overall record and finished third in the SLIAC with a 14-4 mark.

The 17-12 record in 2019 marked Webster's fourth consecutive season of posting a winning record and 22nd time in program history that the Gorloks have won at least 17 matches in a season. In addition, the Gorloks won 14 matches in league play and that marked the third consecutive season in which Webster won at least 14 SLIAC contests.

Unlike previous seasons, the 2020-21 spring season will feature a different kind of schedule as the Gorloks will play a total of 14 matches (7 home and 7 away) and all 14 of those matches will come against SLIAC opponents as they will play home-and-home against each of the league's seven other schools. Following the conclusion of the regular season on March 24, all eight teams will compete in the SLIAC Tournament as the league has added a quarterfinal round and a consolation round for teams losing their quarterfinal match to the tournament. The higher seeded team will host matches in the tournament with the championship match scheduled for Friday, April 2.

"We always strive to be at the top of the conference and have not finished lower than third in recent years," Graf said. "We train our players to take it one day at a time and one opponent at a time. That's especially important this year, since things could change very quickly. We're stressing to give your best each day and enjoy it while we navigate this unique season."

Among the key returners for the Gorloks as sophomore outside hitter Lauren Borik (Belleville, Ill./Althoff) and junior middle hitter Kylie Burke (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West). Borik and Burke are the team's two returning starters from 2019 and in addition to those two players, two other players, senior setter Emma Larson (Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West) and junior defensive specialist Kyra Gensel (Clarkton, N.C./Harrells Christian), played in all 29 matches in 2019.

"We have several returners that understand our program and know our conference. The team continues to work hard to achieve the top-notch level," said Graf, who has led the Gorloks to seven regular season SLIAC titles and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. "Those players have done a great job of leading our new players. We are a relatively young team with six upperclassmen as opposed to 13 underclassmen."

Borik, who was named to this season's SLIAC Preseason Watch List, earned Second-Team All-SLIAC honors in 2019 after leading the Gorloks in kills (316) and kills per set (3.07) and was second in attack percentage at .268, while Burke recorded 78 kills and was second in blocks with 62. Larson was second in assists (377), tied for third in aces (32) and was fifth in digs with 212 and Gensel recorded 234 digs and 21 aces in 2019.

One thing that Graf likes about her team this season is the healthy competition in practice for starting positions and how that competition is helping to develop depth at each position.

"We have been asked about our starting line-ups, however, it's really hard to tell right now because we have strong competition in the gym," the coach added. "Each day it seems like another player has a great day and makes progress towards winning a spot on the court."

Along with the four players that saw action in all 29 matches in 2019, Graf also returns several other players that played in more than half of the team's matches a season ago and several others that played in at least a third of the matches.

Among those returners are junior outside/right side hitter Peyton Eikel (Dardenne Prairie, Mo./Liberty), sophomore setter/right side hitter Ali Spohr (Quincy, Ill./Quincy) and sophomore outside/middle hitter Jordan Mueller (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central).

During the 2019 season, Eikel played in 22 matches and recorded 59 kills and 36 digs, while Cichelero saw action in 18 matches, including starting at libero in the SLIAC Tournament match against Westminster and had 81 digs, including a career high 30 in that match with Westminster. Spohr and Mueller played in 13 and 16 matches respectively last season.

Graf said several of those returners - Spohr and Mueller specifically have really stepped up during preseason workouts and are expected to contribute this season.

"Ali is looking strong right now. She has seen some court time the past few years for us as a setter, but her hard work looks to aid her earning a larger role this season.  Ali is in excellent condition, works very hard and we are excited by what she brings. "Jordan (Mueller) also played in several varsity matches last year and offers versatility for us. She is comfortable attacking from anywhere in the front row and her passing has really stepped up this year. Peyton also saw time as a pin hitter last year and is another strong option for us."

When talking about Webster Volleyball that one thing that stands out to everyone is their ability to play defense as the Gorloks have been on the top defensive teams in the league since Graf's arrival at the school in 2001.

Last season, Webster led the league and was second nationally in NCAA Division III in digs per set as the Gorloks averaged 21.4 digs per set. Along with leading the league in digs per set, Webster also led in opponents hitting percentage (.133) and was second in both blocks per set (1.58) and total digs (2,269).

The Gorloks defensive attack last season was anchored by the play of libero Kristen Farrah, who graduated in three years. After leading Division III in digs per set as a sophomore in 2018, she was fourth nationally in digs per set in 2019 as she averaged 6.61 per set and recorded 694 digs on the season, which is second-most on the school's single season chart. In 2018, Farrah recorded a school record 882 digs and averaged 8.32 digs per set.

"Kristen was certainly a dynamic player, but we are fortunate to have depth with our defense this season," said Graf.

With Farrah's loss to graduation, Graf still expects her team's defense to once be a strength of her team this season.

"I think our defense will be strong again. The bottom line when you're talking about defense is that it is an attitude. You have to be willing to commit to get the ball wherever it is.  We like aggressive defenders that communicate well," the Webster coach said.

Among the players expected to step into Farrah's role this season are Gensel and sophomore defensive specialist Tori Cichelero (St. Louis, Mo./Ursuline). As a freshman in 2019, Cichelero saw action in 18 matches and recorded 81 digs, including tallying a career-high 30 digs as the starting in the SLIAC Tournament semifinal match against Westminster.

"Our two returning defensive specialists, Kyra and Tori worked side-by-side with Kristen and both are very talented, strong defenders and are comfortable on the court. They could have started for a lot of teams on our schedule last season," the Webster coach said when asked by her returning defensive specialists. "Kyra was on the court a lot last year and Tori saw action as well last year as a freshman."

Entering the 2020-21 season, the Gorloks will need to find some offensive replacements as the team lost 58 percent of its kills and 66 percent of their digs from the 2019 season. Among the players lost were Farrah and juniors Samantha Kruse and Jordan Price and seniors Jenna Rodriguez and Sarah Jacobs. Four of the five players lost graduated, while the fifth, Price, did not return to play her senior year.

Kruse, who was a Second-Team All-SLIAC performer, recorded 223 kills, 290 digs and was tied for third on the team in aces with 32, while Price, who was also a Second-Team All-SLIAC honoree, had 260 kills, 110 digs, 35 aces and led the team in both blocks (96) and hitting percentage (.295). Rodriguez led the team in assists (483) and aces (41) and was second in digs (337) and Jacobs had 176 kills, 68 digs, 47 blocks and hit .159 on the season.

While the Gorloks return 12 players that saw playing time last season, including nine that played in 10 or more matches, Graf went out and added six new freshmen to her team's roster this season and those newcomers should help also in creating more depth in the line-up.

"We have six freshmen in the program this year. They are all working hard and developing, which is exciting," added Graf. "They are quickly adjusting to the speed of the college game."

The six freshmen newcomers this season are setter Delaney Demman (Omaha, Neb./Central), right side/middle hitter Katie Eskildson (Klamath Falls, Ore./Triad), setter/defensive specialist Kayla Huels (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault), outside hitter Marisa Lanzotti (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Cape Central), defensive specialist/outside hitter Emma Matteson (Columbia, Mo./Hickman) and right side hitter Alexis Wolf (Quincy, Ill./Quincy).

"Alexis has the ability to be dominate at the net, Marisa can play all six rotations and Katie offers versatility for us," said Graf. "Delaney is looking more comfortable running the offense and is a solid defender from the setter's position. Emma continues to improve her defense and Kayla can play setter or defense. It is great to have options and we're hoping is that we can stay healthy and compete for another conference title."

Graf says that her team's depth and versatility are two of her team's biggest strengths this season.

"I think our depth and versatility are strengths for us. We are working on our consistency and if we can achieve that, I think we can be very competitive," added Graf. 

One thing Graf is confident of this season is that the SLIAC should be competitive for all the teams in the league.

"There are a lot of great players returning and not just on the top teams. It should be fun and very competitive," the Webster coach added.

Following Saturday's season opening match at Fontbonne, the Gorloks will take a week off before returning to action on Feb. 20 at home against Greenville University. First serve for the Greenville match is set for 11 a.m. at Grant Gymnasium. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fans will not be allowed inside Grant Gymnasium this season at any of Webster's seven home volleyball matches.

"We are excited to get our season started," Graf stated.