Behind every great team there is a great leader, and the K-State volleyball team has one.
Led by seventh-year coach Suzie Fritz, the No. 16 Wildcats (10-3, 2-1) are ready for the heart of Big 12 Conference play. All great coaches tend to be great recruiters, and Fritz fits that mold. She somehow convinced a 6-foot-3 Russian outside hitter and a Puerto Rican libero that K-State was the place to be.
Nataly Korobkova, a native of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, was selected as the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. She is leading the Wildcats in kills.
You can't forget about Angie Lastra. The libero is undoubtedly K-State's best defensive weapon, leading the Wildcats in digs with 188. Lastra is not only leading the Wildcat squad, but she has written herself into the record books. She has tallied more career digs than any other Wildcat.
Korobkova and Lastra are perhaps K-State's two best weapons and are brought to you by Fritz from thousands of miles away. I don't know how she does it.
Fritz has won Big 12 Coach of the Year twice and is already K-State's second-winningest coach. Her 2003 team won the Big 12 title, was 30-5 on the season and featured two All-Americans. Fritz's other teams have been great as well, with five of six squads making the NCAA Tournament.
It would have been six in a row, if not for last season. I wish I didn't have to bring up last season, but K-State did finish second to last in the Big 12.
Fritz has made a clear statement to reporters several times recently regarding last season. She always says something like, "I'm so tired of talking about last year."
Maybe I should be tired of talking about last year also, but I keep doing it. The reason is because I truly believe the 2006 season was a fluke.
Don't be surprised if you see the Wildcats finish in second or third place in the conference this season. Maybe some of you volleyball newbies are wondering why K-State can't finish first in the Big 12.
Nebraska is still in the conference and is the reigning national champs. Sorry Wildcats, you can't win the league this year. A few other teams will compete and Fritz will bring her squad to compete.
Fritz is among the top Big 12 coaches and has an established record. She brings intensity to every match and has an extremely competitive spirit. She said she will always push her team to work harder and loves improving.
"You're rarely going to find me feeling great," Fritz said. "That's just not the way I tick, I guess."
It's time for the purple and white to return to the top of the Big 12, and Fritz will carry her squad there. I have no idea what volleyball coaches get paid, but it sounds like Fritz is due for a raise.
Jonathan Potter is a sophomore in business. Please send comments to sports@spub.ksu.edu.
