Season Outlook

Under the direction of new coach Chad McDole, the Graceland Yellowjackets look forward to a bright 2005 season due to the combination of experienced returning players and fresh new recruits.

“In terms of potential, we have the best combination of a solid returning core and strong recruiting class that this team has seen in five years,” says McDole.

The Jackets will look to the leadership of seniors Conan Salanoa (Aiea, Hawaii) and Justin Franklin (St. Louis, Mo.) for the base of the program. The sole junior Donan Cruz (Wailuku, Hawaii), along with sophomores Al Dupont (Honolulu, Hawaii), Gregory Harry (Rosseau, Dominica) and Rick Fera (Independence, Mo.) round out the solid core of returning players.

The sophomore class is held down by right side Donva Louder (Wilmington, Calif.) and defensive specialist and setter Ryan Gonzales (Mililani, Hawaii). Louder is a dual-sport athlete, who is a receiver for the football team in the fall and Gonzales was an all-OIA West player two years in high school.

McDole sees great potential in his freshman class, primarily from outside hitter Kevin Allison (Elgin, Ill.), who was listed on Volleyball Magazine’s Fab 50 list of the top 50 players in the country. Ainoa Miyashiro (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Austin Isham (Leawood, Kan.) will battle for court time as freshman setters. Miyashiro was an all-tournament team performer at the Junior Olympics as a club player and Isham played for the USA juniors team from the Kansas City area. Middle hitter Brandon Carr (Kahuku, Hawaii), was an all-state player in high school and should make an impact as a freshman.

Redshirts Pono Yin and James Butler, both from Honolulu, Hawaii, are practicing with the team this year, and look forward to seeing court time in the spring of 2006.

In the 2005 preseason poll, Graceland is listed as the tenth best team in the nation. Throughout the season, the Jackets will play seven teams ranked in the top 10 in the nation, including No. 2 Lindenwood University, No. 3 Missouri Baptist University, No. 4 Park University, No. 5 Newman University, No. 6 Missouri Valley College, No. 8 Cardinal Stritch University and No. 9 William Woods University.

Even with a tough conference schedule, the Graceland men’s volleyball team looks to improve on last year’s first round loss in the conference tournament and 5-17 overall record.

McDole, a 1999 graduate of Graceland, was a defensive specialist for the Yellowjackets in 1998, when the team won the NIRSA men’s volleyball national championship. He knows the caliber of play he needs to create within his team to make his way to the top of the MidAmerica Men’s Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference. McDole looks forward to an exciting and competitive season with his 2005 Yellowjackets.