The stars were seemingly aligned to make it a season to remember for a deep Alderson Broaddus program as 2015 unfolded. A division title in hand, a No. 1 seed with opening-round bye in the conference tournament and the G-MAC Coach of the Year, appeared to be ingredients for postseason success.
Unfortunately, it was one-and-done type situation for AB in the playoffs following a semifinal-round exit and ultimately, back to the drawing board for the offseason.
Regardless, the season was still successful by many accounts as AB ran through the Black Division with an 8-2 record.
Carrie Bodkins transitioned into solely administrative responsibilities at the institution while longtime assistant Abby Stoner gets a chance to make her mark as head coach of the Battlers.
Unless Stoner completely overhauls the Battlers’ system and philosophies, the transition should be seamless with her extensive knowledge of the G-MAC, program and players.
Bodkins and Stoner saw four of their players on the all-conference team. Noticeable absences will be first-team all-conference libero Lauren Hogan and outside hitter Caitlin Cain along with a setter, Lauren Rogers.
Hogan was the league leader in digs as a senior and Cain could really control momentum with her strong service game and ability to put the ball away on the outside. Both graduated with career numbers ranking in the top 10 of G-MAC history.
Sophomore Abby Gourley was an all-freshman team pick and a second-team all-league pick after directing a potent offense and averaging 5.35 assists per set.
Jayla McCrary and Megan Christmann are imposing forces in the middle and are a bookend all-conference pairing up front. Both have the versatility to play on the outside and both are seniors along with Ambyr George and Brooke Morrow.
As a team, AB was predicated on strong defense last fall, leading the G-MAC in digs and finishing second in opponent hitting percentage and blocks.
With many of the key pieces in place from a year ago, expect Alderson Broaddus to contend for another division crown and remain towards the top of the overall conference standings.
Head Coach: Abby Stoner (1st season)
2015 Record (Overall): 14-18
2015 Record (Conference): 8-2
2015 All-Conference Performers: Jayla McCrary (First Team), Lauren Hogan (First Team), Megan Christmann (Second Team), Abby Gourley (Second Team; All-Freshman Team)
Quotable: “I would like to think that I could do it on my own, but I definitely couldn’t have success without the rest of my team. As a hitter, you’re the last person to touch the ball; there’s a passer, a defender playing first and a setter and everyone telling me where to hit, so I couldn’t be successful without the rest of the team.”
- Alderson Broaddus senior middle blocker/outside hitter Megan Christmann
Records Watch: The balance in the Battlers’ system makes it difficult for one player to dominate the stat sheet in any one category…Lauren Hogan had 688 total digs last year, becoming the conference single-season record holder…Her 6.04 digs per set is also a number that became a single-season G-MAC standard; she also ranks third all-time in digs with 1,355…Megan Christmann’s first kill of the season will put her at 850 and into solo fifth all-time in career kills…Former teammate Caitlin Cain finished her career with 804 kills, ranking seventh all-time…Lauren Rogers wrapped up her career ranking 10th in assists (1,014).