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Volleyball team looking for improvement from last year
After a winless campaign in his first season as head coach, John Miller and the Olivet College volleyball team won five matches last year. This year, in his third season at the helm, Miller hopes that the Comets can continue to improve and win more matches.

Senior middle hitter and co-captain Mackenzie Heator (Union City) returns for her final season at Olivet. She has been a mainstay in the Olivet starting lineup since her freshman year. In three seasons, Heator has recorded 697 kills and 242 blocks.

“Mackenzie is going to make a great captain this year,” stated Miller. “She is ready to lead this team and do whatever it takes as one of our offensive leaders.”

Joining Heator as the other co-captain is senior defensive specialist Natalee Singleton (Sand Lake/Lakeview).

“Natalee is our emotional leader,” Miller said. “She is one that we can always count on to remain positive and pick her teammates up.”

Other offensive attackers will be senior Lindsey Tarrant (Metamore/Oxford) and sophomore Ellen Schulz (Freeland). Tarrant, who transferred to Olivet from Oakland Community College (OCC) prior to last season, had 209 kills and was also a threat at the service line with a team-leading 35 aces in 2007. In her rookie season of collegiate volleyball last year, Schulz led the Comets with 348 kills.

Junior Kim Travis (Shepherd) is back after missing last year. While recovering from a shoulder injury, she remained with the team, serving as a student assistant coach.

Seniors Ashley Adams (Brighton/Hartland) and Courtney Lewis (Battle Creek/St. Philip) also return with significant experience in the back row as either a defensive specialist or libero.

Adams also came to Olivet from OCC and played in 25 matches with 287 digs. Lewis saw action in all 30 matches and was second on the team with 409 digs and 31 service aces. Singleton played in 29 matches and recorded 231 digs.

Sophomore Jenessa Hicks (Union City) is back as setter. In her first season at Olivet last year, she tallied 1,027 set assists, 21 service aces and 26 blocks.