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familiar places
“We had a few things happen in the pre-
Women’s basketball coach Bill
season that sent us from a reloading year
Olin and his team have had a
to a rebuilding year,” aW rdlaw said.
surprising fall — both good and
Midway through the 2009 season, the
bad.
Pioneers find themselves 4-8.
The Pioneer faithful will notice a
“eW ’re taking some small steps
lot of new names on the roster this
forward, but you’ll be able to see some
fall as the team looks to continue
more dramatic strides on the field,” Ward-
building on the success of the past
law said. “We’re moving in the right direc-
few years.
tions, but it’s taking longer than anyone
The new-look Pioneers will build
wants. We’ve got a great group of players,
Forward Steve Shaw rises above the competition
on a nucleus of starters like Beth
it’s just a process.”
Keeley and Hadleigh Meek along
with Bethany Schwab, Kristin
Malone and Bethany Rexroth — all
Volleyball setting the foundation
starters last year.
The Pioneers will need
To say the Pioneer volleyball team is
Despite the huge turnover on the
contributions from players who
young might be a bit of an understate-
roster, the Pioneers are 15-13 and are
have been in the program for
ment.
in the middle of the pack in conference
awhile. That’s what’s made them so
They welcomed just four players back
play, just past the midway point.
successful over the past few years.
from last year’s team, and eight of the
“It’s really a matter of figuring out
“eW put a lot of stock in
12 players for head coach Rick Banis are
the college game and understanding the
developing players as freshmen so
either freshmen or sophomores.
position,” Banis said. “We are definitely
they are ready to contribute,” Olin
“The biggest problem that you run into
getting better every weekend.”
said.
is inconsistency,” Banis said. “A really
And even though a run at a Heart
Olin says he is optimistic that
good way to describe the season so far is
of America Athletic Conference title
given the time, his team will get
up and down.”
might not be in the cards this year, Banis
back to where they’ve been lately
Banis added that the Pioneers are work-
believes that the work they are putting in
— right in the thick of a conference
ing toward a remedy for that inconsistent
now will only help down the road.
race.
play.
“We will only get better,” he says. “We
are building a good foundation for the
future.”
Pioneer men reloading for another run
W
hen a basketball team advances to three straight Final
Fours, the expectations get pretty high. They get even
“If Brenton plays like he did last
higher with a switch from Division II to Division I, and a fourth
year and improves like he did a year
straight Final Four.
ago, he can be as good as any guard
It’s a problem that men’s basketball coach Rocky Lamar knows
in the country,” Lamar says. “And Vince can be one of the best
all too well. And through the years, as Lamar has led teams to
defensive guards in the country, too.”
more NAIA playoff appearances than you can count on two
Thompkins hurt his knee this summer, but Lamar says he’ll be
hands, he knows the key to success
ready for the annual Tip-Off Classic in November.
is remembering, but not living in
the past.
Add fellow seniors Mark Ball, Ben Swinger and junior Andrew
Crotty, and the Pioneers have a good nucleus of veterans to
“You have to take each team
compliment the talented crop of underclassmen including Rustin
(individually) and see how we are
Down, Ethan Alexander, Nick Djerf, Lukas Weigel and Keith
going to attack and defend,” said
McCullough. The Pioneers are locked and loaded for a run at
Lamar, who has 14 straight 20-win
fifth-straight Final Four.
seasons. “Each team is different.
You have to remember that.”
“We have some work to do,” Lamar said, “but I know it’s going
to be a fun season. These guys are ready to go.”
The Pioneers will be led this

year by a pair of home-grown
For information on men’s and women’s basketball ticket options,
guards in Olathe natives Brenton
call (913) 971-3278 or go to www.mnusports.com.
Bell and Vince Thompkins.
Senior guard Brenton Bell Fall 2009 | Accent magazine | 17
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