Thanks to a ninth-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth last season, the Lewis women's volleyball program has made trips to the NCAA Tournament routine around these parts. Lewis' stretch is the longest of any team in the Midwest Region and any program at Lewis since the Flyers joined NCAA Division II in 1981. To keep that streak going the Flyers will need to deal with several key losses from last season. Among those, four-year starter at setter Leigh Barea (Battle Creek, Mich./Harper Creek) and Lewis' all-time digs leader Amy Choi (Vernon Hills, Ill./Vernon Hills).

Lewis head coach Lorelee Smith says there are some advantages when you are forced to deal with the graduation of stalwarts.

"When you lose regulars, especially a setter, it forces you to start from scratch," Smith said. "It makes you ask, what do we do well?"

In preseason practice, Smith has been impressed with the team's mental side, as much as what they've been accomplishing on the court.

"This is the most focused and mentally engaged I've had a group at this point in preseason," Smith said. "Even if they are physically tired, they are in to what we are teaching. Which is great as a coach."
 
She has appreciated the positivity of the team too, even after long days with multiple practices.

"When you have non-stop volleyball for three weeks it can get tough," Smith said. "But I have been impressed with how goofy and positive this team has been in the preseason. I'm not sure I've ever had a team that has had that attitude at this point in the season."
 
Smith attributes this to a smaller roster size and the competition that comes from key roles being open on the team.

"With smaller numbers, you don't get lost in the shuffle as a player," Smith said. "We've also had some players continue to grow and you've seen that change in their focus in practice."

One of the biggest challenges with a new setter will be the connection with their hitters.

"You can work on developing a flow and building a connection with a setter in practice but those connections don't get pushed until you play outside competition," Smith said.
 
Lewis will turn to redshirt freshman Abby Becker (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Monomonee Falls) and true freshman McKenna Pierson (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny Centennial) at the setter position. Fans will likely see both on the court with Lewis potentially using a 6-2 offense, where both setters play.

"Right now both setters are neck-and-neck in practice," Smith said. "They run a similar tempo and both deserve to run a 5-1. But when you have multiple hitters and good setters, you can run a 6-2. It isn't a fault to either as both can be 5-1 setters."
 
Lewis returns multiple talented hitters. Sophomore middle hitter Aly Schneider (Granger, Ind./Penn) had an impressive freshman campaign, hitting .362 with 254 kills.
 
"Aly is blocking and hitting at a higher point than she was last year," Smith said. "With two freshmen setters, she's the type of hitter that you don't have to be nervous setting because she will be available and make something out of it."
 
Redshirt senior Alexis Davito (Crest Hill, Ill./Lockport) returns at right side hitter. She was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection last year after. Davito recorded a career-high 3.47 kills per set while adding 46 aces, the most for a single season in the rally scoring era for the Flyers.

"Alexis embodies Lewis volleyball," Smith said. "She does everything right from school work, to eating healthy, to working out. Since she does everything you need to do, she doesn't hold back when talking to her teammates. That is needed on a team, even if it doesn't win her brownie points."
 
Senior outside hitter Cassidy Parsons (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) is another Flyer that Smith has been impressed with during the preseason. Parsons has played in 317 sets for the Flyers, owning 617 kills and 725 digs.  

"Cassidy has made a huge jump from junior to senior year," Smith said. "Everything in the past that we've had to instruct her to do, she is now doing on her own."

The Flyers have two experienced options at the libero spot in junior Carolyn Nojiri (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) and junior Nicole Yuede (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North). Nojiri has played in 139 sets over two seasons while Yuede was Lewis' starting libero in 2013 when Choi was out due to injury. Yuede stepped up big last year though, recording 31 digs in the GLVC Tournament against Missouri S&T last season when Choi was sidelined with an injury.

"Nicole is playing the best right now," Smith said. "But it helps she has a year of experience previously so she has the most confidence. Carolyn worked really hard this summer and it shows how bad she wants the position."
 
Smith stresses the importance of getting better and evolving as the season progresses.

"Right now we aren't the best out of system and taking advantage of a chance to put a point away," Smith said. "But that is part of what you look for to improve as the season continues."

The Flyers open the 2015 campaign at Cal State LA's tournament. First up are matches with Molloy and host Cal State LA on Friday (Sept. 4).