EUGENE, Ore.  – Significant improvement seems to be the theme for the 2023 Bushnell beach volleyball team, which is set to open up their second season of competition this weekend.
 
Those gains will come on multiple fronts for the Beacons. From an increased roster with more beach-exclusive players, to a friendlier schedule, Bushnell expects to surprise some people as they get back into the sand.
 
This year's Beach roster is comprised of 13 players, giving a little more flexibility to the rotation and pairings when needed. Among the group are eight returners and five newcomers and features eight exclusive beach players.
 
Head Coach Kim Elgarico said, "We were lucky enough to have eight kids in our fall training season, compared to just three or four last year. Our training has been more cohesive, our strength and conditioning program has been more consistent, and we look more like beach players. In addition, it was an easy transition for the indoor kids who crossed over. They came in and adapted quickly with fitness, game play, and court awareness."
 
While the schedule you face can never be used as an excuse, the fact of the matter was that in their debut season, the Beacons went 1-15, facing off with the eventual NAIA National Champion, Corban University, in ten of those losses. Despite their record, the Beacons were able to garner votes in the NAIA National Coaches Poll on a few occasions, and eventually grabbed their first win by knocking off No. 10 Park University-Gilbert in Cal Pac tournament pool play.
 
"Our options were limited last year," said Elgarico. "We had to get 12 matches in to qualify for the CalPac tournament, but after all of those very near losses, once we got to the tournament we were able to beat a top-ten team in the country. Going up against Corban so many times allowed us to get better faster than anyone in the country. It was an opportunity and one that will continue to reap benefits moving forward."
 
This season sees two more new teams from the Cascade Collegiate Conference as Northwest University and Southern Oregon University have added teams. Bushnell will play each of them at least four times during the regular season.
 
"There are four local teams this year, which will give us a better chance to show where we are and what we can do. We have more experienced athletes, we have improved our deceptiveness and our offensive skill set, and we are going to surprise teams that are looking at us based on our record last year."
 

Pair Preview

 
Halle Neumann/Laci Jespersen
 
Senior Halle Neumann leads the way for the Beacons, bringing in a First-Team All-Cal Pac selection from 2022. She finished last season with a team-best record of 6-10, including a 3-3 mark while playing in the No. 3 pairs slot. Laci Jespersen is a freshman from Salem.
 
Coach Elgarico said, "Halle has a ton of experience under her belt and her leadership skills have developed a solid amount of trust. She is able to push Laci, who is a freshman getting to play with a true big, coming from being a Libero. It is a great partnership with two players that have the drive and competitive fire to win. They have similar personalities, Laci puts up a great ball that Halle can put anywhere and Halle is able to trust Laci to defend her block."
 
Makenna Northern/Logan Kaneshiro
 
The most decorated indoor athlete in school history, Makenna Northern made an immediate impact on beach volleyball last season, earning All-Cal Pac honorable mention. She playing as part of the No. 1 pair for the entire season and picked up three wins including two at the Cal Pac championships, both against No. 10 Park.
 
Logan Kaneshiro (Kailua, Hawaii) is another crossover athlete who transferred in from Marymount California University which closed its doors last year.
 
Coach Elgarico said, "Makenna and Logan are a very solid team. Makenna with all of her experience, she is bringing so much from indoor to beach. Her eye on the game, her court IQ and her leadership are incomparable. Logan was on the No. 1 team at Marymount and is incredibly fast on the court. That support to Makenna makes them a very fierce team to go up against."
 
Roslyn McLellan/Madi Trueblood
 
Sophomores Roslyn McLellan and Madi Trueblood split time partnered with a since-graduated senior last year and have been brought together this season with an opportunity to make some waves. '
 
"Ros and Madi feed well off each other and are really good communicators on the court," said Coach Elgarico. "They embrace the game whether they are playing up or flat, and they push each other and pull it together. Madi is a very strong defensive presence and Ros has a big attack that keeps getting better and better."
 
Brooke Silvernail/Jadeya Hayes
 
Brooke Silvernail is a sophomore crossover athlete who has been a big part of both indoor and beach programs since her arrival. She will be partnering with Jadeya Hayes (Springfield, Ore.), a junior transfer from Linn-Benton Community College where she was their Libero.
 
"Brooke is our Batwoman and Jade is our Superwoman and they are a very solid team," said Elgarico. "Brooke has some experience now and is very unsuspecting. Everyone who plays against her is surprised by what she is able to do on the court. Jade can fly. She is so fast and brings a ton of experience. She isn't afraid to swing and plays without fear."
 
Anessa Stotts/Abigail Nelson
 
Sophomore Anessa Stotts returns for year two, after sealing her place in history last season as part of the No. 5 team that sealed Bushnell's upset with over No. 10 Park-Gilbert at the CalPac tournament. She helped Bushnell to the 3-2 victory, battling 90-degree heat to win a three-set battle with a 15-13 win in the third. She will partner this year with Abigail Nelson, a mid-year transfer from the University of Puget Sound where she competed on the indoor team in the fall.
 
Coach Elgarico said, "Anessa and Abby are an exciting pair to watch as they grow together. As they have been playing together they have started adapting and coaching each other and finding shots and holes that other teams aren't seeing. They have a strong serve that is going to provide a lot of points. With a year of experience as one of our first Beach players last year, Anessa has really taken on a leadership role this year."
 
Mai Tomlin, Megan Netter, Reagan Walker
 
A deeper roster this season has provided the opportunity for three players to work in the alternate/reserve roles. These women will play primarily in the sixth "exhibition" pairing, but could also be called upon as needed to sub in with other pairs.
 
Sophomore Mai Tomlin, who is currently working her way back from an injury, played a similar role for the Beacons as a freshman. She saw spot starts in the No. 5 pair and is expected to have similar opportunities once healthy. Coach Elgarico said, "Mai has been playing very consistently and we can see her filling in as a little in any position. She is consistent with her serve and her passes and can be very vocal and control things on the court."
 
Freshman Megan Netter (Aurora, Ore.) brings a unique skillset to the table. As an indoor Outside Hitter in high school, she was a two-time All-Conference selection, and her club beach experience provides some diversity. "Megan has the most beautiful hand-sets," said Elgarico. "She isn't afraid to go put up a block and be an offensive presence and she's fearless as a little."
 
Junior Reagan Walker (Peoria, Ariz.) transfers in from Neumann University in Ashton, Pennsylvania where she was a defensive specialist and libero. Elgarico said, "Reagan is a very technical player. She is always in perfect form and when she makes good contact it is very difficult for opponents to play off of her. Her placements are getting better and she has improved dramatically from the fall. When the opportunity happens, she will be a great piece of one of our scoring teams."
 

Coaching Staff

 
With the continued growth of a young program comes continued expansion and growth of the coaching staff assisting Elgarico. Elton Villanueva returns for his second season with a focus on the littles. "Elton has all types of creative ways to make us better offensively and does a great job at giving a 'why' to each idea that he introduces."
 
Kara McManus joins the staff this year to focus on the development of the bigs. She is a former Division I player at the University of Oregon and was a two-time collegiate Club Volleyball National Champion with the Ducks as well. "It helps so much to have a six-foot-four-inch female out there to watch, see, and listen to. She has added a whole new aspect to our training and has been amazing."
 
The "silent partner" of the coaching staff is Jason Corwin, Bushnell's indoor volleyball head coach. Elgarico said, "We are also so grateful and blessed to have Jason as our biggest fan, providing behind-the-scenes support. We truly couldn't be where we are without his leadership."
 

Outlook

 
After a regular season consisting of 19 total matches, the Beacons will once again head to the CalPac Tournament in Chula Vista, California in April, with an opportunity to qualify for the NAIA Beach Volleyball National Invitational.
 
Coach Elgarico believes the sky is the limit for this team. "We are a completely different program this year," she said. "With the amount of training we have been able to have this year compared to before, we are more intentional, more aggressive, more offensive, and I am confident that every one of our pairs can score points for us."

The Beacons start the season at Corban University in Salem this weekend, but will not have to face the champs out of the gate. Bushnell will take on Southern Oregon twice and Northwest University once, before coming home to Amazon Park next Tuesday to face off with the Warriors for the first time.