Lake Forest College Sports Information
Contact:  Mike Wajerski, SID

2003 Preview: Back on Top in 2003?
  

The Foresters know how important teamwork is in order to bring back the championship in 2003.
LAKE FOREST, IL - After claiming three consecutive Midwest Conference Championships, the streak was finally broken in 2002. While some people might be discouraged by the setback, head coach Beth Pier and the Forester volleyball team are now more determined than ever to have a successful 2003 and reclaim the league's top spot. "Losing in the conference tournament puts a sudden end to the season," she explains. "I think I can speak for our players when I say that we're anxious to give it another try next year and finish the tourney on a more positive note."

While the team was unable to claim a fourth title in a row, the 2002 season was certainly not a failure. The team finished with an 18-15 record, completing a four-year stretch that included 83 Forester victories, the most of any such span in team history. In addition, the squad took on some of the best teams in the country. While Lake Forest was defeated by UW-Whitewater, the eventual national champion, it did collect a win over Elmhurst College, then the nation's 11th-ranked team.

Individual players also made a little history in 2002. Jenny Anderson recorded the 1,000th kill of her three-year career, becoming just the third Forester to reach that milestone. Anderson and Stephanie Metzger co-captained the team and each earned First Team All-Midwest Conference honors. Metzger put her name in the record books with a 26-dig performance in the regular season finale, matching teammate Amy Krueger's school record set earlier in the year. Jenna Harper gave the team a third all-conference player with her Second Team selection. Harper led the team with 113 blocks, the second-most in school history. Only three other Foresters have ever reached the century-mark in blocks in one year.

With Anderson, Metzger, and Harper returning for their senior seasons in 2003, Pier is optimistic about the team's chances to make it four-out-of-five conference titles. "We have great leadership and some talented players returning," she begins. "We hope to add a few newcomers who can battle the returnees for starting positions and make an immediate impact. If we can do that, our depth will improve as well and we can get back to where we belong."