Near the end of the 2008 season, several important events transpired. First, coach Patti Rolf resigned from the program, and two starters were suspended for "team reasons.,”Junior setter Nikki Klingsporn has transferred to the Marquette women's volleyball team at a transitional period for the program.

Near the end of the 2008 season, several important events transpired. First, coach Patti Rolf resigned from the program, and two starters were suspended for "team reasons." Then on Dec. 15 Marquette announced former Georgia Tech coach Bond Shymansky would be taking over the squad.

After Shymansky's hiring, Caryn Mastandrea, Marquette's setter for much of the 2008 season, was told she would not be rejoining the team following her suspension.

While this may seem like a tough situation for a player to transfer into, Klingsporn is not intimidated by what has happened in the last couple of months.

"I don't think it's scary, because everyone on the team just wants to move forward," she said.

Klingsporn was the top setter for Wisconsin last season but chose to transfer to Marquette largely because of its new coach.

"I really like the vision he has for the program," she said. "He's very competitive and I love that in a coach."

Shymansky recruited Klingsporn during his tenure at Georgia Tech, and when he headed back to the Midwest he just couldn't resist another shot at the setter.

"First of all, she's incredibly skilled," Shymansky said. "As for the leadership qualities, the setter needs to have a calm confidence on the court, and she has that."

Marquette outside hitter Leslie Bielski, who played against Klingsporn in high school, said she was very excited to hear she was joining the program. Bielski recently has been rendered academically ineligible.

"She's very, very hard-working," Bielski said. "I never played with her, but I think everyone recognized that she was a very hard worker for her team."

Klingsporn is coming from a Wisconsin team where she ran a 6-2 formation, meaning six hitters and two setters. At Marquette she will run a 5-1 system. An opportunity to be the only setter on the floor was a plus for Klingsporn.

"I've run a 5-1 my whole life," she said. "The 6-2 worked for the team we had in Madison, though."

In high school, Klingsporn set while playing in the back row, but was a hitter when she rotated to the front row. That hitting experience will be invaluable now that she will be up front for Marquette.

Klingsporn's offensive abilities could prove even more important due to the team's situation at outside hitter. Bielski is unavailable for the spring season, and the other starter from last season, senior Ashlee Fisher, is no longer with the team after being suspended in 2008.

That leaves freshman Ciara Jones as the only active Marquette player with experience at outside hitter on the college level.

However, while Shymansky juggles his players at different positions, he can be sure that Klingsporn is his setter.

"I want to help make this program better right now, so bringing Nikki in is an important part of that," he said.

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