Building for the future

With the high expectations for volleyball this upcoming season, it would be easy to forget the impressive incoming recruiting class. The Vanguard takes a look at the five new volleyball recruits for 2009–10.

Courtney Toney
Position: Defensive specialist
From: Burns High School
Hometown: Burns, Ore.
Oregon State 3A Player of the Year last season, Toney has a long history of success in her four years at Burns High. A very capable server, Toney has a chance to compete immediately for time against current defensive specialists Nicole Bateham (sophomore) and Diana Villapando (junior).
Likes and dislikes?
“I love boating and swimming. I really don’t like olives … Oh, I hate losing!” Toney said.

Dominika Kristinikova
Position: Setter
From: Auburn Riverside High School
Hometown: Bratislava, Slovakia
An all-around talent and Prepvolleyball.com high school All-American, Kristinikova makes everyone better the second she sets foot between the lines. Possessing ability to make an impact right away, look for her to start making plays sooner rather than later.
Kristinikova is currently in Europe and could not be reached by the Vanguard.

Garyn Schlatter
Position: Setter
From: Canby High School
Hometown: Canby, Ore.
A physical player that possesses top-shelf athleticism, Schlatter earned 2009 Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year. Schlatter also brings a strong mental game as well, thanks no doubt to her mother, Terri Jo Schlatter, who was part of PSU’s 1984 NCAA Division II National Championship volleyball team.
Strongest part of her game?
“My competitiveness. I hate losing,” Schlatter said.

Lily Wygal
Position: Middle blocker
From: Central Catholic High School
Hometown: Wilsonville, Ore.
An imposing player who is gifted with good length and the ability to play above the net, Wygal makes herself known on the front row. On Goviks.com, head coach Michael Seemann put it best when he said, “She is 5-10, but she deceivingly plays much higher.”
The thing she likes best about Portland?
“My favorite thing about Portland as a city is all the events. I like going to the Saturday [market] and farmers’ market, as well as Blazers games … I love the Blazers!” Wygal said.

Whitney Phillips
Position: Outside hitter
From: New Mexico State (junior transfer)
Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
A natural outside hitter, Phillips will rack up the kills for Portland State just as she did the last two years at New Mexico State, a top-25 team during her entire tenure. With an excellent all-around game that most would kill for, her twin, who still plays at New Mexico State, might be the only one who wouldn’t.
The thing she likes best about Portland?
“Being in an urban campus. Being able to have options and being able to go do things [around town],” Phillips said.