To say the transition for Kylie Heyne to get acclimated with her program as a first-year coach was rushed is an understatement. Heyne arrived in West Virginia just three days prior to the start of the regular season, transplanting all the way from Oregon where she coached high school and club.
Not only did Heyne (formerly Carrington) get the team to buy into her philosophy and system in a short amount of time, the Senators responded with what amounted to be one of the best campaigns in school history.
The Senators fell just short in 11 of their first 12 contests to begin the regular season, but right the ship in a hurry to end up just one game under .500 when it was all said and done.
Davis & Elkins had senior leadership in the form of setter Haylee Murray and libero Ellie Drain while showcasing the height and athleticism up front that has been a staple of some of the G-MAC-contending heavyweights.
The Senators won in the conference tournament quarterfinals against Ursuline in four sets before running into Cedarville in the semis.
D&E was entertaining to watch in the postseason and while veterans like Murray and Drain can be difficult to replace, it’s easy to see why the program is trending upward. Being picked seventh out of eight in the preseason coaches poll should only add fuel to the fire.
Senior defensive specialist Michaela Touchet led the G-MAC in service aces per set (0.45). Sophomore Charisse Mitchell stepped in and ranked fourth in the league in hitting percentage (.255) and blocks (0.76).
In addition, senior right side Elizabeth Estes was fifth in the conference in kills per set (2.89). Another senior, Devin Saucy, was also a top-10 G-MAC producer in kills per set (2.51). Junior Kayla Godwin was top-10 in blocks and hitting percentage.
Without seeing the 2016 roster and assuming most of the core remains intact,
Heyne will have brought in her first wave of recruits. A substantial group of six assumed seniors will be playing their final season this fall. D&E was second in the Black Division only to Alderson Broaddus and will represent the G-MAC in the Mizuno Midwest Region Crossover in mid-October.
Head Coach: Kylie Heyne (2nd season)
2015 Record (Overall): 15-16
2015 Record (Conference): 6-4
2015 All-Conference Performers: Charisse Mitchell (All-Freshman Team)
Quotable: “We did have a rocky start in the beginning of last season, but we found that team cohesion and really were able to pull it together by the end of the season, which was pretty successful. So I’m hopeful that we can pick up where we left off and grow from there.”
- Davis & Elkins Head Coach Kylie Heyne
Records Watch: It’s hard to believe that D&E currently doesn’t have any active player ranking in the top 10 in the career conference record books…Several are on the verge of breaking through including Elizabeth Estes (15th in career kills – 657), Devin Saucy (14th in kills per set – 2.51), Michaela Touchet (13th in total service aces – 85) and Kayla Godwin (tied for 11th in total blocks - 155)…Haylee Murray ended her career ranked seventh all-time in assists (1,622).