Michelle Stueve has one last year to finish up her to-do list.
Though the two-time All-American doesn’t have much left to accomplish individually, she said there’s still one goal main goal for her senior year.
“My dream would be to play for the national title,” Stueve said. “There’s very few that get to do that.”
This year, the Emporia State Lady Hornets might just have the talent to get her there.
Though it’s not often that a team can recover so quickly after losing six seniors, this Lady Hornets basketball team looks like it at least has the potential to make a run for its fifth Elite Eight appearance.
Stueve returns as the only senior on Brandon Schneider’s squad, which will have eight new faces this year.
Now the question is whether Stueve and the Wonders will be able to put things together when it matters most.
Last year’s team seemed to peak too early, as the Lady Hornets won five straight in January and February before losing four of their last eight.
ESU was upset in the first round of the NCAA South Central Regional by Texas A&M Commerce, 81-77.
“I think what we learned from last year’s team is the importance of chemistry,” Schneider said. “When you have a senior-dominated team, that can really work out to your benefit, or I think it can be detrimental if the chemistry isn’t good.
“I think we were a little too clique-ish. I think people got along, but in little pods. That can be detrimental to your team.”
With so many new players — and so much new talent — Schneider hopes the results will be different in 2007-08.
Cassondra Boston, the reigning MIAA freshman of the year, returns as a scoring threat from the point-guard position, and junior Andrea Leiker also is back, bringing strong on-the-ball defense along with good outside shooting touch.
Sophomores Lacy Corker and Jamie Augustyn add depth to the guard positions, but beyond that, most of the Lady Hornets’ rotation will be filled with newcomers.
The biggest changes will come in the post, where four new players will see significant minutes.
Ida Edwards should have the biggest effect once she becomes eligible to play in mid-December after transferring from Pensacola Junior College.
“I know that when Ida joins the lineup,” Schneider said, “we’ve got a real scorer.”
The 6-foot junior also will bring athleticism into the post, as she once was signed to play with Division-I power Louisiana Tech.
Schneider’s hope is that with Edwards in the mix, ESU will be extremely difficult to stop offensively.
“Now, we have a front-line scorer (Edwards), a scorer on the wing (Stueve), and a point guard who can score (Boston),” Schneider said. “I think that is going to really create some tough matchups for some people.”
ESU also will improve late with the growth of post players Allie Renberg and Alli Volkens.
Renberg, a transfer from Iowa Lakes Community College, has shown good touch around the basket and also a knack for rebounding the basketball. She led ESU in rebounding in the team’s first three games this season.
Volkens, meanwhile, is more of a physical force, using her size to create problems inside.
“Right now, Allie Renberg and Alli Volkens are trying to develop into consistent offensive weapons,” Schneider said. “I think they can get there, but I think it’s going to take some time.”
Becky Zabel, a transfer from Cloud County Community College, has earned a reputation as defensive stopper and will earn minutes in that role. The junior has started each of the Lady Hornets’ first four games.
ESU’s scoring also should receive a boost from Brittney Miller.
The freshman might be Schneider’s most heralded recruit after being named Miss Basketball in the state of Kansas last season. She averaged 20 points, 8 rebounds and 4.7 steals per game as a senior at Paola High School last year.
The athletic, quick guard had a late start on the season, as she just joined the basketball team full-time last week after competing all year with the ESU volleyball team.
Perhaps the biggest uncertainty for the Lady Hornets is the backup point-guard position. Freshman Bree Kisner, from William Chrisman High School in Independence, Mo., and Corker are battling for the minutes there.
“I think we have yet to have someone step up and really take hold of the backup point guard spot,” Schneider said. “We have some people competing for it, and once we get that shored up, it’s really going to make us a deeper team.”
With his depth, Schneider is hoping that he can limit the minutes of both Stueve and Boston, which would allow them to be fresh at the end of the game.
The expectations, as always, are high for this year’s Lady Hornets. They were picked to win the MIAA Conference by the league’s coaches and also were No. 3 in the National Bulletin preseason poll.
“I guess the thing you learn the most is you’re always going to have a target on your back,” Stueve said. “You’ve got to show up every night or (other teams) are going to take advantage of you.”
The Lady Hornets already have been upset in the early season, as they fell 71-66 to Central Oklahoma on Nov. 24. It was ESU’s first November loss since 2002.
ESU now is 3-1 heading into Dec. 3’s game against Evangel.
gregorymed (anonymous) says...
I hope coach schneider will in fact have Stueve, Boston, and Edwards on the floor at the same time and see if MIAA teams can guard them. I think they would have beat K.U. if Edwards would have been elgible and played. Does anyone know if she will get to play with the hornets in Hawaii????
December 3, 2007 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mashford (inactive user) says...
Ida Edwards is set to play in Emporia State's first game in Hawaii against Shaw.
December 3, 2007 at 4:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )