Eighth-year head coach Cara Currier likes the mix of youth and experience that she has on her 2009 University of St. Francis volleyball team.

"We are young but we have a lot of talented experience at three key positions - the middle, setter and libero," says Currier. "I have five freshmen that will likely see a lot of time on the court but it is my hope that the veterans around them can take the pressure off them and put them in positions where their inexperience will not be as big of a factor."

Leading that group of talented veterans is a pair of returning first-team All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference performers in senior libero Courtney Ambrosch and senior setter Kelsey Polte.

Ambrosch anchored the Saints' defense for the past two seasons and led the club with an average of 4.75 digs per game. She was the team's best serve receiver and provided outstanding leadership on the court. A perfect 4.00 student, Ambrosch also earned Third Team College Division Academic All-America honors from CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).

Polte was a first-team All-CCAC performer as a junior and continued to put her name in the USF record books as one of the more prolific setters in program history. The 2009 season will be her fourth as the full-time starter.

"Courtney and Kelsey are the senior leaders of this team and they have shown in fall camp that they are ready to step up and have outstanding senior seasons," says Currier. "It is their job to help put the freshmen and younger players in positions where their lack of experience will not hurt them. Both of them know the game well and know our conference opponents very well."

There is no shortage of experienced talent in the middle as well. Junior Kyrsten Becker, an honorable mention All-CCAC outside hitter a year ago, will shift to the middle as the 2009 season opens. Becker led the Saints with 452 kills last season and will bring a lot of offense to the middle blocker spot. She joins fellow two-year starter Lauren Hoffman in the middle, giving USF a solid one-two punch at that position.

"Kyrsten is a very versatile player and that helps make our team that much stronger," says Currier. "She was a defensive specialist on our conference championship team as a freshman and an all-league outside hitter as a sophomore. I expect nothing but great things from her in the middle this year. Plus, she is solid defensively and one of our best serve receivers. Lauren showed great improvement as a sophomore and has been a starter for almost all of her time here. She just keeps improving and she and Becker will give us a great combination in the middle."

Freshman Erin McNeil will see some time in the middle in 2009, backing up both Becker and Hoffman. Stephanie Shostok, another frosh, will also play at both the middle blocker, right side and outside hitter positions.

The defense will also be a mix of old and new. Four-year starter Karen Gruber will give the Saints plenty of experience on the back row, joining Ambrosch and Becker as solid serve receivers. Freshman Dana Wettergren is the newcomer that has stepped up in fall camp and claimed a regular spot in the Saints' lineup.

"Gruber is a seasoned veteran," says Currier. "She was limited last year due to some back ailments but if she can stay healthy this year she will give us a great senior season. Wettergren is so full of energy and quickness. She will give us a big lift whenever she is on the court and already plays defense like a college veteran."

Sophomore Nicole Brown and freshmen Breanna Rivera and Chelsea Rimington give the Saints some depth at the defensive specialist position.

Sophomore Sarah Ahline returns as the starter on the right side. She assumed that role midway through her freshman season and finished the year with an average of 1.71 kills per game. Freshmen Ashley Thompson and Shostok will back up Ahline and push her for playing time.

The outside hitter position will indeed be one that is filled by "committee" this year. With Becker moving to the middle and All-CCAC performer Elaina Ambler completing her collegiate career last year, the Saints will go with youth on the outside in 2009.

Sophomore Kristee Conrad and freshmen Jazzmyne Robbins and Thompson are the names that are at the top of the "committee." Conrad played some as a freshman and showed promise as a backup to Becker and Ambler. Robbins, who like Conrad possesses a very hard hit, stands 6-1 and gives the Saints an imposing presence on the outside. Thompson impressed in fall camp and can contribute at both the outside and right side positions.

"This is where the ability and experience of Kelsey Polte at setter comes into play," says Currier. "Kelsey can help all three of these young players be very successful by putting them in positions where they can be most effective. All three have tremendous talent and potential. I am really excited to see how they perform this year.

"And we always have the option of moving Becker back to the outside if the ‘committee' is struggling or if an injury were to occur," continues Currier. "That is where Becker's great versatility comes into play again."

Polte will also be training a couple of young setters who will need to be ready to take over the "quarterbacking" spot in 2010. Sophomore Laura Shain will redshirt in 2009 and freshman Ashley Richards will serve as Polte's backup.

"I really feel that we have the talent and experience to again challenge for the conference championship," says Currier, who led the Saints to a share of the title with Saint Xavier two years ago. "Olivet is the defending champion and the clear-cut favorite. Saint Xavier was very young last year and will certainly be much improved this season. Illinois Tech lost a lot to graduation but they always recruit well and always have played us very tough. They ended our season in the conference tourney last year.

"I put Trinity International, Trinity Christian, Robert Morris, Cardinal Stritch and Purdue North Central all into a group of teams that are improving and dangerous," adds Currier. "Yes, we should be able to beat each one of them but if you don't come ready to play, any one of those teams can and will beat you. Trinity International did that to us at their place last year."