This will not come without its ups-and-downs, however. The Bears will have to come into the season looking to replace the assist machine, Kinsey Batten, and defensive specialist, Elise Munroe.
“We like to feel like we reload. We don’t have to start over,” head coach Melissa Stokes said.
Batten led the NCAA in total assists last season with 1,522 and averaged 11.3 assists per set. Munroe was fourth on the team in digs (329) and third in digs per set (2.51). Their production will be missed, but head coach Melissa Stokes feels the team has the players to step in and fill in those roles.