ClauseSophomores dominate the women’s volleyball roster, filling six of the thirteen-person roster. The significance of the role the sophomores have filled is reflected in their numbers, accounting for 405 of the team’s 1,087 season kills. In addition to their impressive attacking, the class is also responsible for roughly 45 percent of the team’s overall blocking.

The class wasted no time making an immediate impact during its first season. Sophomore outside hitter Joy Reinke was second in kills her freshman season with 353 total, in addition to recording 318 digs and 37 blocks.

“A lot of us had to fulfill roles on the team as freshmen,” said Reinke. “And so it’s a continual process of maturing and every year being more responsible in what your role is and just learning how to deal with the pressure.”

Among last season’s other top performers were sophomore middle blocker Ashley Vander Tuig and sophomore outside hitter Mattie Shelford. Vander Tuig concluded her freshman year first in blocking and third in kills, followed by Shelford who finished fifth in kills.

“It definitely forces you to grow up on a whole new level. Working and pushing people who are older than you, because on a team you can’t not encourage your teammates just because you’re younger,” said Shelford. “You’re all equal on the volleyball court and so it’s a very different dynamic.”

The Cougars lost a large senior class just as the current sophomore class started its career.

“It was essential for them last year to step into roles they needed to fill because we lost so many people. So last year coming in they did just that. They stepped in where they needed to be and they performed at a high level for freshmen,” said senior middle blocker Christy Cain. “They’ve just been building off of what they came in with.”

Head coach Chris Keife intended the sophomore class to be large in order to fill those positions that opened up with the graduation of the class of 2012. With the addition of setter Jaden Louie to the sophomore class this season, the class grew from five to six women.

“With that comes a lot of benefits, and with it comes a lot of issues as well, because you have so many girls that are the same age learning at the same pace, contributing as well, on the courts,” said Keife. “When they’re seniors it’ll be difficult to replace them, but in the moment they’re all contributing and doing well.”

Reinke and Shelford recognize the potential harm a class this size could do to the program when graduation time rolls around. However, the two hitters also recognize the benefits of coming in with multiple teammates by their side.

“The advantage of having a class our size is we have the potential to be really good because we’re all growing together,” said Reinke.

Shelford said with so much talent on the team, there is a lot of room for growth.

“Next year it’s pedal to the metal, it’s pretty much do or die, and we’re looking forward to being able to achieve the goal of NCAA and actually have that title and get that recognition,” Shelford said.

Azusa Pacific is its final year of the three-year NCAA membership process, meaning teams will become eligible for NCAA Division II playoffs in the next academic year.

“Since I can’t go to NCAA playoffs, they better make it,” said Cain jokingly. “They’re going to do well. They’re going to perform. The last two years have just been growth periods for them, and starting next year is when it really counts.”