The Fort Lewis College volleyball program added three players who were on head coach Tricia Melfy’s radar who will compete for the Skyhawks next season.
Liza Doppler will be an incoming junior outside hitter after she signed her National Letter of Intent from Bismarck State College, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II school located in Bismarck, North Dakota. Melfy also signed Joviana Romero from Pueblo East High School and added Chandler Karr from Paola, Kansas, after she transferred from Neosho County Community College.
“All three of them, I’m super excited for,” Melfy said. “They’re going to raise the level of play in practice, but they also bring this confidence and calmness, if you will, about going about volleyball. I like that we bring some experience and leadership along with the talent that they bring on the court.”
At 5-foot-8, Doppler proved her value despite being on the shorter side for an outside hitter after she had a stellar sophomore season and recorded 370 kills 39 aces and 398 digs for the Mystics last season. She was a key part in leading them to the NCJAA Region 8 Championship game, as she had 20 matches with double-digit kills and 20 matches with double-figure digs. She made the All-Division II team and was also a member of the all-region team. She tallied 694 kills during her two-year career with Bismarck State.
Melfy said she remained in touch with many junior colleges in the Midwest and has established connections from her time at both Minnesota-Morris and Minot State in North Dakota.
“I got to know Bismarck State from my time, and it’s always been a really good junior college program, and they’ve been on my radar when I want transfers,” Melfy said. “They’ve been very good; they’ve got tons of great athletes and also add a level of experience, too. Liza fell in love in Durango and she fits the bill. Her stats speak volumes about what kind of player she is and who she can be here.”
Doppler is the third transfer to FLC this season after Alexa Treguboff, a fellow outside hitter, transferred from Glendale Community College, while setter Courtney Bayles, a Bayfield native, transferred from Adams State.
Romero is one of five incoming freshman next fall. She led Pueblo East to a 13-10 record last fall and tallied 200 kills, 25 aces, 24 digs and 21 blocks in 74 sets played. She steadily improved during her four-year varsity career and had 441 kills during her first three seasons. She finished with 641 kills and also recorded 143 digs, 115 aces and 38 blocks in 289 sets. Melfy said she will compete to fill both an outside hitter spot but will also compete at the libero position as a defensive specialist.
“Joviana is such an athletic kid, and she’s dynamic, she’s quick, explosive, can jump, and her volleyball IQ is great for a freshman,” Melfy said. “She can play in a lot of places on the court, and while she’s going to compete for that outside spot, her athleticism is so good that I think she’d make a great libero.”
Karr is an incoming junior. Last season, she was a force for Neosho County, where she had 478 kills, 52 aces, 469 digs and 98 blocks. She recorded 27 double-doubles last year and tallied 729 kills during her two-year career.
“Chandler had that confidence with her really throughout these past two years, and again, it was a great fit for us,” Melfy said. “I like to play a fast offense, and that is one of Chandler’s strengths. She can jump out of the gym, is quick, has great IQ and is a competitor.
“I know I’ve got a couple of commits to finish, but at the end of the day, we are solid. When I signed Chandler, I knew that we were pretty much deep wherever I needed to go. ... Athletically speaking, we’re raising the bar with these athletes who are coming in, and it’s going to be so much fun to see the level of competition.”
bploen@durangoherald.com
