Head volleyball coach Kellen Mock enters her ninth season as ACU’s head coach with just two returning seniors and several players who made their mark as freshmen last season.

Mock is preparing for the switch from the Lone Star Conference to the Southland Conference.

“We are focusing more on blocks and swinging high because it will be a challenge facing the size of the Southland,” said Mock.

Four freshmen on the team received significant playing time last year.

“They contributed strongly in the 2012 season,” said Mock. “I am relying upon them to physically perform for us, but I’m asking for them to raise their game mentally to another level, and if they do that we can be a special team.”

Corrie Reeder and Sarah Siemens are two of the returning players who will be relied upon for their experience. Reeder started 21 matches and recorded 1.96 kills along with 0.80 blocks. Siemens was the Lone Star Freshman of the Year and averaged 10.59 assists per set.

The team looks to their only two seniors, Madelyn Robinett and Caley Johnson, for leadership as they begin new conference play.

Madelyn Robinett led the conference last year with 0.38 service aces per set. Caley Johnson was named to the Capital One Academic All-District team in 2012, and said she hopes to build on that success in her senior season.

ACU will be taking on even tougher challenges from Div. I opponents like Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, and Texas-Arlington this year.

Johnson remains positive about the conference switch and said she sees the competition as “a new challenge that can take the team’s play to the next level”.

“Although we might be a smaller, I think we will play smart, and that intelligence and court awareness are going to make us scrappy and crafty on the court,” said Johnson.