Kadera brings experience to young Toledo roster

Losing seven seniors off a roster of 14 would be detrimental to many programs across the country, but thanks to players like Kassie Kadera, Toledo finds itself with an opportunity to make a run at the Mid-American Conference Championship. Kadera, a junior setter out of Aurora, Ill., returns to the Rockets for her third season after earning second team All-MAC honors last year and leading the conference with 10.91 assists per set.

"My performance last year isn't just based off of my performance and decisions," Kadera said. "I have to thank my teammates. I wouldn't be able to have the most assists per set without my passers and I wouldn't be able to it without my attackers being able to put the ball away. Decision-making and knowledge of the game, I attest to that, but my teammates are the ones who got me through."

Kadera was chosen, along with fellow junior Amber DeWeerdt, as a team captain for the upcoming 2010-11 season.

"Amber DeWeerdt and I were named captains, so we feel as though we have a little bit more responsibility," Kadera said. "Margot [Joniec] and Katie [Westerfield] are our seniors and everyone looks up to them a great deal. However, Amber and I know that we must step into that leadership role just as well as Katie and Margot. We are a young team. We have five freshman and four sophomores, so the underclassman have to step up too."

Kassie has been contributing to the team since she first arrived at Toledo, playing in all 60 games the past two seasons giving her the experience that a young group needs.

"Confidence-wise it has helped me a lot," Kadera said. "It has helped me develop relationships with my teammates on and off the court. I am able to recognize my teammates body positions and realize when they're having a bad game and encourage them. I've been playing with Amber since junior year of high school and I am so thankful to have her here to help me and for me to help her."

The Rockets open up the season this weekend at the Rocket Classic in Savage Arena against Loyola (MD), Binghamton and Michigan, who is currently ranked 12th in the Collegiate Volleyball Top 25. Toledo also faces Southeastern Conference foe Alabama and Big Ten opponents Wisconsin and Michigan State.

"We are really looking forward to this season," Kadera said. "Coming into preseason, we were not sure how we would be as a team after losing seven seniors. We found out quickly that we are in a much better spot now than where we were last season. We have a tougher preseason, so maybe will get tougher and improve even more. We are all really excited.

"I think it is very smart on the coaching staff's part [to schedule top teams in the country]. Last year we started off with a pretty easy preseason tournament and it built up to our St. Louis tournament. I think it is beneficial for us to have a harder preseason to lead us up into the MAC regular season."

Second-year coach Greg Smith hopes that with players like Kadera the Rockets can continue to improve and contend with the top teams in the country.

"The biggest thing we have seen with Kassie is her leadership and her commitment level," Smith said. "I saw big difference in the spring and how she was really getting into the weight room and really working hard. She is really leading in the right ways. She's done a great job of adapting to what were doing."

After her career at Toledo is over, Kassie would like to coach collegiate volleyball and possibly become an athletic director, but Kadera and the Rockets have a few goals to achieve before her time is over.

"We have talked about MAC Championship, MAC West Division Champions and of course overall MAC Champions. A winning record after preseason, with a tough schedule we might not be as successful as our 9-0 start last season, but we have a tough schedule and if we come away with more wins than losses then we are going to be in a very good place."

The Rockets regular season kicks off tomorrow night at 7 p.m. against Loyola (MD) and Saturday night against Michigan at Savage Arena.