August 16, 2005

As of August 8, 2005, Saint Martin’s College officially became Saint Martin's University.  With a new name, new coach, and a new attitude the Saint Martin’s women’s Volleyball team looks forward to the dawn of a new era.

First year head coach, Phil Ibarra, takes over a program that finished the 2004 season with an overall record of 6-19 and 9^th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a record of 4-14.  After losing five seniors to graduation and two students opting not to return, only three players return from last season’s roster.  The biggest loss is Saints middle blocker, Christy Hurley, averaging 2.51 kills, .98 blocks, and 3.30 points per game, good enough for honorable mention All-GNAC honors in her senior season.  The Saints suffered an unexpected loss when Kristin Ponce, who was sidelined most of last season with an ankle injury, transferred to Eastern Washington University to play volleyball for the Eagles.

The turnover presents a tough challenge for Ibarra. Although he warns that it may take a little time to turn the tide, he is ready for the challenge, “I am asking the GNAC and the institution to be patient, just give me 3 years and we’ll get this program headed in the right direction.”

Returning for the Saints, on a team otherwise comprised of new faces is setter Lisa Hall started at setter last season, averaging 9.84 assists, 23 service aces, and 3.14 digs a game, and was a GNAC Academic all-star. Rezents saw limited time last season.  Stewart missed a large majority of last season with a knee injury and will red-shirt this season. 

Currently no starters have been named, “Everybody is fighting for a position,” according to Ibarra.  Ibarra is quick to point out that turning the program around will not fall on the shoulders of a single individual, “To build a foundation of success, everybody will need to feed off each other.  It will take a group effort to build a tradition of success.”

Their fortitude may be the core covenant Ibarra relies upon.  “The girls have the heart, desire, and motivation to build a foundation of success for the future of this program.  I have been impressed by their discipline this summer in their workouts.”

Coach Ibarra hopes to instill in his team the importance of successfully balancing academics and athletics. “Academics will be something that I stress to the girls.  They are students before they are athletes.  I will challenge them to maintain a 3.0 GPA.   I prefer my student-athletes to be pro-academics rather than solely pro-athletics. My goal is that every athlete we recruit graduates from Saint Martin’s University and becomes a positive statistic rather than a negative statistic in our society.”

Five teams from the Pacific Region are ranked among the top 20 in the pre-season poll. Defending regional champion Cal State San Bernardino headlines the list at fifth, while Hawaii Pacific is listed eighth. Central Washington follows at 12th, while UC San Diego is 13th and Chaminade sits 20th.  The Saints face 20th-ranked Chaminade on Sept. 6 at Saint Martin’s Pavilion.

The Saints Volleyball squad may be small in numbers, but are big in heart!  Ibarra warns GNAC opponents, “Dynamite comes in small packages.  We might just be the sleeping giant.”

2005 VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

*Great Northwest Athletic Conference contests
# Senior Night

Head Coach:  Phil Ibarra (1^st year)

Assistant Coach:  Mieka Eisen (1^st year)