D.J. Sokol Arena inside the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center Table of Contents Bluejay seniors Alicia Runge (far left), Allie Oelke (middle) and Lauren Bloemke (far right) hang on to Nayka Benitez (front). Table of Contents The 2010 Season 2010 Opponent Information Creighton University D.J. Sokol Arena and Ryan Athletic Center IFC, 2 Bradley, Central Michigan, Drake Omaha, Nebraska 5 Home Venue History 3 Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State 34 University Information 66-67 D.J. Sokol Arena Records & Timeline 4 Iowa, Kansas President Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J. 68 2010 Season Outlook 10 Lipscomb, Marquette, Missouri State 35 Athletics Director Bruce Rasmussen 68 2010 Roster and Quick Facts 11 Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Saint Louis Athletics Department Directory 69 Head Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth 12-14 San Francisco, Southern Illinois, Toledo 36 Student-Athlete Support Center 71 Assistant Coaches Behrens, Mendoza, Sjuts 15 Wake Forest, Wichita State Media & Web Site Info 72 MVC Tournament, Bluejay Invitational Records 37 Team Photo Inside Back Cover MVC Composite Schedule 38 The Missouri Valley Conference 39 Bluejay Volleyball History The 2009 Season in Pictures 6-7 Alumni Testimonials 8 Bluejays in the Pros 9 2009 Recap 40 2009 MVC Awards and Tournament Review 41 2009 Statistics and Results 42 Player Profiles 2009 MVC Standings and Statistics 43 Nayka Benitez 16 Creighton Volleyball All-Time Honor Roll 44-45 Lauren Bloemke 17 Annual Statistical Leaders 46 Media Guide Credits Allie Oelke 18 Kill Records 47 Attack Percentage & Attempt Records 48 The 2010 Creighton Volleyball Media Guide is a pro- Alicia Runge 19 duction of the award-winning Creighton University Sports Karisa Almgren 20 Assist Records 49 Ace Records 50 Information Office, directed by Robert Anderson. Interior Laurel Sanford 21 design, writing and editing by Anderson using an iMac Megan Bober 22 Dig Records 51 Block Solo/Assist Records 52 with QuarkXPress and Adobe Photoshop CS3 software. Brooke Boggs 23 Editorial assistance and research provided by Rob Lisa Greisch 24 Total Blocks Records 53 Point Records 54 Simms, Kevin Sarver, Creighton Public Relations and the Brittany Moon 25 Creighton Volleyball coaching staff. Photography by Heather Thorson 26 Set & Match Played Records 55 All-Time Roster & Stats 56 Creighton University Creative Services, Korie Lebeda, Kelly Brianne Fliss and Natalie Hackbarth 27 Goc, Evansville Athletics, Wichita State Athletics, Doug Lexi Malm and Julianne Mandolfo 28 All-Time Uniform Numbers, Year-by-Year Stats 57 Creighton Volleyball Timeline 58 French, Teddy Young, Dave Weaver, Scott Bruhn, Michelle Savannah Smith 29 Ratzlaff, Portrait Innovations, Brad Williams, White and Career Match-by-Match Stats 30-32 Year-by-Year Scores 59-61 Series Records 62-65 Blue Review and Eric Francis. Outside cover designs by Player Survey 33 Mark Joekel.Printing by Creighton University Varsity Press. 1 D.J. Sokol Arena Inside the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center On Oct. 16, 2007, an important milestone was reached when Creighton broke ground for a new on-campus facility at the northeast corner of 19th and Webster – just north of Michael G. Morrison, S.J., Stadium – thanks to the generous donations of Wayne and Eileen Ryan and family and Dave and Peggy Sokol. D.J. Sokol Arena inside the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center is a 75,000 square-foot facility, that houses a gymnasium holding 2,950 fans, as well as coaches’ offices and locker rooms for women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, baseball and softball. It also houses areas for ticket- ing, athletic training, meeting rooms, media workrooms, hospitality func- tions and additional academic space. The arena is also being used for other campus and community events, including assemblies, coaching camps and clinics, concerts, speakers and high school graduations. Wayne and Eileen Ryan and their family have been long-time supporters of Creighton University. Wayne Ryan, BS'49, MS'51, chairman and CEO of Streck Laboratories, Inc., began his career teaching at Creighton before pursuing The Ryan and Sokol familes were honored during the dedication of the facility at intermission of the Creighton vs. Texas Tech volleyball match his passion for research that led to the founding of his company. The Ryans on Aug. 28, 2009. are also Jaybackers and their daughter, Connie, serves on Creighton’s Board of Directors. Dave and Peggy Sokol are honoring their son, D.J. Sokol, who died in 1999 following a battle with Hodgkin’s disease, by naming the gymnasium the D.J.Sokol Arena. Sokol serves as chairman and CEO of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, a glob- al leader in the production, supply and distribution of ener- gy from diversified fuel sources and recently served on Creighton University’s Board of Directors. D.J. Sokol “We have been searching to find a more suitable venue for women’s basket- ball and volleyball competitions for some time,” said Creighton athletics director Bruce Rasmussen. “Visionary donors like the Ryans and Sokols make our dreams of an even stronger athletics program, championed by intense- ly loyal fans, more of a reality. This Bluejay spirit is a unifying characteristic that enhances the institution’s visibility and reputation.” The facility was fully funded by private monies and is home to Bluejay vol- Wayne and Eileen Ryan pose with Billy Bluejay at the groundbreaking leyball and women’s basketball. for the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena. Ground was broken on the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena on Oct. 16, 2007. 2 Home Venue History For the second straight season, Creighton will play all its home In addition to a larger locker room and team lounge at D.J. Sokol volleyball matches on campus at D.J. Sokol Arena in the Wayne and Arena, Creighton’s volleyball program also benefits from coaching Eileen Ryan Athletic Center. offices, a weight room and athletic training rooms in the Ryan Athletic More than 182,000 bricks, 654 tons of steel and 30 miles of elec- Center. The Ryan Athletic Center also boasts the offices for much of trical wire were used during construction, which employed up to 115 Creighton’s support staff, including ticketing, marketing and sports workers at one time. information. The school also bought a Sport Court surface that the The height of the roof ridge is 78’-10” above the arena floor, with team uses for its volleyball matches and practices. a ceiling fan measuring 20 feet in diameter spinning high above the Creighton Volleyball Home Venues playing surface. 1st Last W-L Avg. By Site Match Match (Pct.) Crowd Kiewit Fitness Center 9/9/94 11/16/96 13-21 (.382) 162 Skutt HS 8/29/97 11/15/97 4-5 (.444) 139 Marian HS 10/10/97 11/1/97 4-0 (1.000) 163 Omaha South HS 9/18/98 11/16/02 24-27 (.471) 268 Omaha Civic Auditorium 9/19/03 11/22/08 44-26 (.629) 730 Qwest Center Omaha 9/24/06 10/5/08 0-3 (.000) 11,077 D.J. Sokol Arena 8/28/09 11/27/09 10-5 (.667) 1,062 D.J. Sokol Arena in the Ryan Athletic Center 701 Florence Boulevard • Omaha, NE 68178 Omaha, Neb., is located just west of the convergence of Interstates 29 and 80 on the west bank of the Missouri River. To get to D.J. Sokol Arena, follow the directions below: Going West on I-80 Nayka Benitez unleashes a jump serve. Traveling west on Interstate 80 from Des Moines as you approach the state line, take Interstate 29 North. Go 1.4 miles before getting in the left lane and exit left onto Interstate 480 West, crossing into Nebraska. Take the 14th Street exit (exit 3). Stay straight to go onto Cass Street. Turn right onto Florence Boulevard. Facility will be on your right. From I-29 North Traveling north on Interstate 29, take I-80 West at the convergence of the two interstates in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Follow the above directions from I-80 West. Going East on I-80 Traveling east on Interstate 80 from Lincoln, take Interstate 480 North to downtown Omaha. Continue on I-480 North to I-480 East, taking the Capi- Looking at the south end of D.J. Sokol Arena in the tol/Civic Auditorium exit. At the stoplight, turn left (north) on 19th Street. Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center. D.J. Sokol Arena will be on your right in 0.4 miles. From Eppley Airfield When leaving the terminal, turn left (south) on Abbott Drive and follow toward downtown Omaha. Abbott Drive will turn into Cuming Street. Take Cuming Street to 18th Street and turn left (south). Proceed two blocks and the facility will be on your right, just past Mystery Manor. Media Parking Limited media parking is available near D.J. Sokol Arena in a lot located on the northeast corner of the intersection of 18th and Burt streets. From that intersection, go north and the lot entrance will be on your right. Requests must be made 48 hours or more in advance and names will be placed on a list with the parking attendant. Media should cross the street and enter through the east side of the building, just past Mystery Manor. Media Will Call/Entrance If arriving more than an hour before a match credentialed personnel must enter through the East doors. Once gates open an hour before first serve, cre- dentialed personnel may enter through any ticketed gate at D.J. Sokol Arena. Credentials will be left with the attendant on the east side of the building.