There's strength in numbers, and Linfield volleyball is hoping to use an army of student-athletes to its advantage as the 2022 season is right around the corner.
 
Third-year head coach Haley Domeck has 33 players in her program, including 17 newcomers. It was enough to restore the Wildcats' junior varsity team, which has been reestablished to allow every player to develop and see action on the court in some capacity.
 
With so many new faces to go along with a strong core of returning players, the 'Cats are looking forward to surprising the rest of the Northwest Conference. 
 
"We have so many new athletes in the program," Domeck said. "We're focusing on off-the-court bonding so when we get on the court, everything runs a little smoother."
 
IT STARTS AT THE TOP
When the team had its first meeting in the summer, Domeck didn't have to say much because the veterans took initiative and set the standard.
 
The first player to set the tone was senior outside hitter Raelynn Hammock, an Honorable Mention All-NWC selection in 2021. Hammock provided most of the offense for Linfield last season, finishing third in the NWC with 291 kills, 3.73 kills per set and 33 aces. She led the 'Cats in kills in 18 of their 22 matches, reaching double digits 19 times. She set a new career high with 28 kills against Pacific on Oct. 30, which ranks tied for third in program history in a single match.
 
During that first team meeting, Hammock addressed her teammates and said, "On time means 15 minutes early." Combined with her fellow team captains in seniors Aylea Dixon and Kara Thomas and junior Maddie Broyhill, Hammock looks to take this program to another level.
 
"They're a phenomenal leadership team for us. All that experience coming back to the court makes our jobs easier as coaches when explaining drills," Domeck said. "They're hungry for the season and want to help to finally turn that corner for our success."
 
RETURNING STANDOUTS
Hammock led the way in 2021, but Linfield has the pieces to create a more balanced offensive attack this year.
 
Senior middle blocker Ellie Mead finished third on the team with 105 kills to go with a team-leading 48 blocks. Thomas contributed 85 kills while Broyhill led the team with 0.71 service aces per set. Dixon appeared in all 22 matches at setter, ranking fifth in the NWC with 579 assists, recording a season-best 53 assists against Warner Pacific on Sept. 7.
 
Sophomores Paige Richards and Terra Leiber and senior Maya Nakasone return to anchor a strong back row. With the added height in the front row to create strong blocking opportunities, the defensive specialists have thrived in the first two weeks of practice.
 
Senior Megan Stanek has started to see some practice time at middle blocker, giving Domeck more options behind Mead along with senior Megan Pallas and freshman Lexi Correa.
 
"It's been a dog fight in practice," Domeck said. "They're going at each other and making each other stronger."
 
NEWCOMERS STEPPING UP
The revamped JV team will take the court for 12 matches this fall. For the 11 players on the JV roster, more opportunities for competition against other programs will be available, which is something the coaching staff can't always replicate during practices.
 
"I'm a firm believer that our athletes get better by spending time on the court," Domeck said. "It creates a level of depth that you're not able to have when you have one team. It allows those athletes to grow."
 
Six freshmen and two transfers will make their debuts at the varsity level.
 
The two transfers are junior outside hitter Marina Erosa and junior setter Claire Johnson. Erosa joined the 'Cats from Los Angeles Harbor College while Johnson made her way to McMinnville by way of Shoreline Community College.
 
Freshmen Sophia Kleckner, Sydney Downing and Ainsley Medina bring consistency in the back row and have shown promising ball control skills.
 
"They make the future of ball control at Linfield volleyball look bright," Domeck said.
 
Correa will fight for playing time at middle blocker while Ryli Kalahiki enters as a strong candidate on the right side. Araeya Watanabe is also hungry for one of those outside spots, which was left vacant after the departure of recently graduated Regan Dean.
 
"That spot is open and up for grabs and those outsides are working hard," Domeck said.
 
IN RETROSPECT
Linfield went 5-17 in 2021 with a 1-15 NWC mark in Domeck's first full season at the helm.
 
A strength for the 'Cats in that season was defense, particularly in the back row. Their goal for 2022 is to stay true to their solid defense while creating a more balanced offensive attack around Hammock. Distributing the ball and getting more players involved on offense will have other teams guessing more at the net.
 
"We need scrappy defense in the back. We're a tough serving team," Domeck said. "We can take people out of system, and we need to make sure we're ready to pick up those balls when the other side is more predictable."
 
The 'Cats open their 2022 season at the Pacific Coast Classic in California. They will play New England College at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, before meeting La Verne later that afternoon at 2 p.m. Both matches will take place at the Leopards' Sports Science and Athletics Pavilion.
 
Linfield will go head-to-head with Whittier at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Pomona-Pitzer, before hopping over to neighboring Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to face Redlands at 11:15 a.m.
 
Northwest Conference play opens on Sept. 16 with the 'Cats hosting Willamette at 7 p.m. at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.