WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- A return to aggression at the net has Midwestern State ready to face the challenges of the Lone Star Conference in 2013.
 
"We've returned to a philosophy of getting taller players," MSU coach Venera Flores-Stafford said.
 
Midwestern State returns five letter winners including three starters with second-team All-LSC performer Caitlin Wallace, Michelle Blount and Beatriz Villalba to go along with defensive specialist Casey Fletcher and outside hitter Brandi Flores. Scout Wonsang and Marissa Olivares served as redshirts last season.
 
Injuries at key positions marred a rough campaign in 2012 as the Mustangs finished seventh in the LSC with a 7-23 overall record.
 
"There's a lot less pressure on us because we struggled last year," Flores-Stafford said. "No one really expects much from us so we're the underdogs and I like going into a gym like that. I think that eases the pressure for the girls a bit."
 
The Mustangs retooled with the addition of five transfers including senior Marija Jovanovic (Florida A&M), juniors Kaitlyn Molloy (North Idaho) and Hunter Porter (Emporia State), sophomore Nicole Marzik (Fairfield) and redshirt-freshman Madelyn Johnson (New Mexico State).
 
Flores-Stafford filled out the signing class with a deep group of freshmen consisting of Sarah Rosinke, Alyssa Fulgium, Sarah Garfield, Angel Summers, Morgan Lienemann and Cody Moore.
 
The Mustangs open the season by playing host to the MSU/Hampton Inn-vitational Friday and Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Midwestern battled McMurry and Northwestern Oklahoma at 2 and 6 p.m. on Friday before closing tournament play against Southwestern Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
 
MIDDLE BLOCKER
 
Midwestern State's primary leadership resides in the middle led by co-captains Caitlin Wallace and Kaitlin Molloy.
 
"We get a little bit of old with new with a fresh view and outlook from Kaitlyn Molloy. She comes from a championship program," MSU coach Venera Flores-Stafford said. "Then from Caitlin Wallace, who is a starter and has been here for four years.  Having those two will give us a good balance for the rest of the team."
 
COMING BACK: Wallace earned second-team  All-LSC honors a season ago posting 2.48 kills and 0.67 blocks per set.
 
"Caitlin came in great shape this season and really set the tone in the preseason," Flores-Stafford said. "She knows what she wants, what she's giving to the program and what she wants to leave as her legacy."
 
Senior Michelle Blount, who primarily played in the middle last season, assumes a new role this fall on the right side.
 
NEWCOMERS: The athletically gifted and skilled Molloy gives the Mustangs a 6-rotation talent in the middle with the ability to play beyond her 5-8 frame at the net.
 
"She's a fun player to watch. She has enthusiasm and loves the game," Flores-Stafford said. "Her work ethic is beyond reproach. She's going to give you 100 percent all the time and run through a wall.  Kaitlyn has versatility to play in front and back."
 
True freshman Sarah Garfield also lends her talent to give the Mustangs true depth in the middle.
 
"She will vie for playing time as a freshman," Flores-Stafford said of the Holliday High product." She's athletic, explosive and has fun playing the game. She is versatile with the ability to play in the middle and on the right side and can excel at either place. She has great timing on her block. She just finds the ball at all times and is aggressive on the net."
 
Angel Summers, who prepped at Hewitt Midway High, will serve as a redshirt this season.
 
OUTSIDE HITTERS
 
When Flores-Stafford hit the recruiting trail last season, one the constant strands was finding quality depth for solid core of outside hitters.
 
"My philosophy in recruiting this team was to have options everywhere. We took on injuries in key positions last year and it hurt us," she said. "Our core of outsides will be competing for starting spots on a day-in and day-out basis. If someone is having off day then we'll shift them and see who can make it happen."
 
COMING BACK: Senior Beatriz Villalba and Brandi Flores are the only returners on the outside.
 
Villalba averaged 1.60 kills and 2.39 digs per set last season after transferring in from Eastern Arizona. Her athleticism will play a key role in the success of the unit this season.
 
"Beatriz is a hard hitting outside hitter who can play six rotations," Flores-Stafford said. "Limiting her minutes will be best for her to keep her going throughout the season."
 
Flores appeared in 23 matches making 11 starts at the middle blocker last season after serving primarily as an outside hitter the previous two campaigns. She averaged 1.37 kills and 1.54 digs per set in 2012.
"Brandi is  a senior with a proven work ethic," Flores-Stafford said. "She's worked harder than I've ever seen her work this summer. She just wants to come in and compete."
 
Marissa Olivares served a redshirt season in 2012, but Flores-Stafford sees her as a great addition to the mix this season.
 
"She's a unique player who is aggressive with a weird arm swing that we've decided not to change," she said. "If we can focus her attention a little bit, she's going to be a good player, too."
 
NEWCOMERS: Sophomore Nicole Marzik enjoyed a productive freshman campaign at Division I Fairfield (Conn.). She was a three-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week  putting down 1.80 kills to go along with 1.71 digs per set while helping the Stags to a 22-9 record and a conference title.
 
"Nicole is crazy athletic and she's going to be a spark for us," Flores-Stafford said.
 
Morgan Lienemann is the lone freshman of the bunch and is coming off of a standout prep career at Victoria (Texas) High.
 
"Morgan has room to grow but her defense and her serve receive are real shining light to me because I like six-rotation OHs," Flores-Stafford said. "She will challenge for playing time and be helpful in the future."
 
Junior Hunter Porter will serve as a medical redshirt this season after transferring in from Emporia State.
 
RIGHT SIDE HITTERS
 
Michelle Blount makes the move from the middle to hold down the right side this season. The 5-11 senior made 27 starts last season averaging 1.48 kills and 0.69 blocks per set.
 
"Michelle (Blount) playing on the right side is huge for us," Flores-Stafford said. "The Lone Star Conference is very outside hitter driven so that will be good for us to put a big, strong block up there. She seems to be flourishing there."
 
Blount is supported by a pair of talented freshman in the versatile Garfield and the hard swinging Cody Moore out of  Dripping Springs (Texas) High School.
 
"Cody is going to challenge for time on the right side but she has some room to grow," Flores-Stafford said. "The speed of the game will be a little challenging for her but she's very coachable and she does what I ask her to do. It will be good to see her grow as a player."
 
DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
 
With the added versatility of numerous 6-rotation players in the fold, Flores-Stafford will have more opportunities to spot a trio of talented defensive specialists this season.
 
Junior Casey Fletcher played in 30 matches as the primary libero ranking ninth in the LSC with 4.04 digs per set, but she has been pushed by incoming transfer Madelyn Johnson, a redshirt-freshman from New Mexico State. Scout Wonsang, who served a medical redshirt at MSU in 2012, gives the Mustangs another quality option as a defensive specialist.
 
"Casey and Maddy are playing lights out," Flores-Stafford said. "It's going to be really difficult to see who is going to play where. All three will play at some point or another. We will looking for them to help keep the front row player's legs fresh all season."
 
Freshman Alyssa Fulgium, who serves as a defensive specialist and setter, has battled injuries throughout the preseason.
 
SETTERS
 
Midwestern State is clearly taller and very deep at the setter position this season the transfer of 6-1 senior Marija Jovanovic from Florida A&M and 5-10 freshman Sarah Rosinke out of Clear Springs High in League City.
 
"Setters at her height and talent level are very hard to find," Flores-Stafford said. "We were very fortunate to get both of those girls into our program."
 
Jovanovic displayed great versatility while helping FAMU to a Mid-eastern Athletic Conference South Division title averaging 2.47 kills per set playing primarily at right-side hitter.
 
"Miya has a lot to prove with just one year left and she's eager to make things happen," Flores-Stafford said. "She's going to run the floor and do it from the front and the back. To have a setter that can put up a block like she has against the LSC hitters is going to be huge for us."
 
Flores-Stafford has compared Rosinke's hands favorably to former MSU standout Allison Schreiber, a two-time All-LSC first-team performer who earned Setter of the Year honors in 2007.
 
"Sarah just wants to play and she's an eager freshman," she said. "Her effort and sheer drive is different than what we've seen in that position."