EUGENE, Ore.  – It will be a transitional year for Bushnell volleyball in 2023, but make no mistake, the Beacons fully expect to pick up right where they left off last season and make another run at the conference and national tournaments.
 
A core of game-changing seniors has graduated, including Makenna Northern, Callie Wilkins, Payton Jones, Shay Coons, and Jessica Northcutt, who between them earned 11 All-Cascade Conference honors, three NAIA All-America honorable mentions, and helped orchestrate a pair of trips to the NAIA National Championship tournament over the past three years.
 
Sixth-year head coach Jason Corwin said, "The legacy that our graduated seniors established for us is undeniable. They put together a few seasons that are reflected in banners in the gym and we get to walk in every day and see that. For our returners, this is an opportunity to not only maintain that standard but to try and do it one better."
 
The Beacons will feature 12 returners and welcome in eight newcomers as they attempt to qualify for the CCC tournament for the fifth straight season.
 
"It is a different group and a new team this year, and we play differently then teams we have had in the past," said Corwin. "For the coaches, our job is to figure out how to put the pieces together to be successful and we are recognizing that replacing five starters that have worked in one system, means expanding our system to match the new personnel. They are running with the opportunity."
 
SETTERS
 
The biggest hole to fill for the Beacons will be at setter, where the record-setting Makenna Northern quarterbacked the Beacons for the better part of five years. Coach Corwin said, "Following up someone who has done more for this program than any player, is an impossible task. We know we aren't going to replace Makenna, but we are going to meet our standards and exceed those expectations in a different way. We have four women fighting and competing right now and this has been the biggest impact on why we are playing differently this year. We are looking to switch up our style of play, and trying to get all four setters to be similar to each other without stifling their creativity and athleticism, in order to give some continuity to our hitters."
 
Entering her fifth season with the program is graduate Peyton Ritchie, while redshirt-freshman Katie Belitz also returns looking to expand her role. "Peyton has taken a leadership role, helping with the play sets we are calling and the tempo we are running. Katie is right there in the mix as well after having a year in the program."
 
They are joined by a pair of newcomers in junior transfer Elijah Sanders (Lane CC) and freshman Kate Palelek (Spokane, Wash.).
 
DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
 
The defense will see some changes with the loss of 2021 CCC Defensive Player of the Year Callie Wilkins. Three women have stepped up to the plate and all three are expected to see significant time. "As the first point of contact, no matter what system we are in we are going to pass and defend very similarly. As a group, we are a little faster and a little stronger this year and that is going to help us out immensely on game day."
 
Juniors Bella Parque and Ella Schauer return to the lineup. Coach Corwin said, "Bella and Ella both understand what our standards are and what the expectations are. Callie did a phenomenal job of shoring up the Libero position group the last few years, but these two have really stepped it up and accepted the challenge."
 
Laci Jespersen (Salem, Ore.) joins the fray as a red-shirt freshman, having worked exclusively with the Beach Volleyball team last season where she earned the NAIA-West Pacific Northwest Coaches Award as the Newcomer of the Year. "Having competed in the sand has served Laci well," said Corwin. "Coming into our level of competition, she is performing well. She has a very deceptive serve."
 
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
 
One of the most dramatic shifts for the Beacons will be at the middle blocker positions, with an entirely new group patrolling the net. "We have more changeover in the middle than anywhere else. We have five very capable players who are all healthy right now. There is so much intensity, it is making the entire group better. We are getting really good play out of the middle, quality offense, strong blocking, and it is such a difference over the past few years because we aren't having to protect one or two athletes."
 
Redshirt Freshman Jesse Matthews is the only returning middle from last season. She is joined by Brooklyn Dechent, who returns after a year away from the program, along with three new players, freshman Tia Picknell (Hood River, Ore.), Sophomore Celia Hubbard (Lane CC), and junior Makenna Mosher (Bellevue College).
 
OUTSIDE HITTERS
 
With a significant loss of two starting outside hitters in Shay Coons and Jessica Northcutt, there is also quite a turnover at the position as well.
 
Among the returners are senior Brooke Silvernail, redshirt freshman Bre Bozarth-White, and sophomore Leah Agost who missed a significant part of her freshman season due to injury. Corwin said, "Brooke is looking really good. Another beach season under her belt has really improved her defense, ball handling, serving, and serve receive. Bre is a strong point scorer from both pins. With Leah, we were thankful to have the spring season and she has worked really hard to get back."
 
The group will be joined by a pair of incoming freshmen in Amayah Semau (West Linn, Ore.) and Ashlyn Tai (Waimanalo, Hawaii). We brought in two true six-rotation, five-tool athletes who play a little differently," said Coach Corwin. "Amayah hits tempo really well and gets on top of the ball fast. Ashlyn's point scoring ability is incredible, anywhere on the court, and she has one of the best serves in the conference."
 
RIGHT-SIDE HITTERS
 
"We are big on the right side with three athletes over six-feet," said Corwin. "Between any of them, our match-ups are going to give opposing hitters a hard time. You can't coach height and in our new system we'll have a better block and more scoring options in all six rotations."
 
Fifth-year senior Halle Neumann has returned for her final season with a shot at breaking Bushnell's all-time kills record. Coach Corwin said, "Halle has been our offensive player of the year in two of her four years. She knows our league, knows the NAIA, knows how to score points, and knows how to help her setter. She can be strategic and her length is unmatched. There has been a lot of pressure on her in the past, but she has a lot more help in the middle and more depth on the left pin, which is only going to make her thrive."
 
Senior Chloe Kurahara also begins her final campaign with the Beacons. "Chloe has been in our program for a long time," said Corwin, "and knows how to maximize her strengths. She has gotten faster and more explosive. Her block timing and her presence is something we have to figure out how to better utilize this season in the right situations."
 
Making the move to the right side will be junior Matty Ladd, who was one of Bushnell's leading blockers in the middle last season. Corwin said, "We always knew Matty had a really good swing, and she is an imposing presence at the net. She is an incredible blocker and has been able to expand her shot selection, and that gives us an advantage."
 
OUTLOOK
 
The Beacons will launch their 2023 campaign in Montana this weekend, taking part once again in the Big Sky Challenge, hosted by Carroll College. The team opens against perennial power Rocky Mountain on Friday morning at 9:00 am Mountain Time. They face off against Spring Arbor (Mich.) on Friday afternoon and will then face Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) and the tournament hosts on Saturday.
 
Cascade Conference play gets underway soon after, with the Beacons playing host in their first five matches. The home opener takes place on Friday, September 1 against Multnomah University.