University of Georgia Athletics
Young Dogs Learning New Roles
October 26, 2015 | Volleyball
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Maddie Lobenstein was mostly a spectator on the Georgia volleyball team last season. As a freshman, the 6-foot-3 outside hitter played in just two matches.
Now, as a sophomore, the hard-hitting Lobenstein has become an integral part of the Bulldogs' attack. And she's not the only player whose role continues to increase.
Freshman Caroline Ostman, a 5-11 outside hitter, has played more and more as the season has progressed. Ostman and Lobenstein often take turns on the court, subbing each other in and out throughout a match.
Georgia coach Lizzy Stemke said she likes what she's seeing from both players, who bring different things to the court. Lobenstein is one of the Dogs' most powerful hitters, she said, while Ostman brings ball control and a stabilizing influence.
"It think it bodes well for our future," Stemke said of Ostman, from Acworth, Ga. "I think she's someone that we recognized the confidence she has and she's just a real calming presence out there — and she's done that right away."
Lobenstein said she definitely felt the nerves of a freshman last season, something she doesn't see in Ostman, who is playing by far the most of the members of Georgia's seven-player freshman class.
"I see a lot of maturity for her," Lobenstein said. "You wouldn't think she's a freshman from the way she plays."
Through 20 matches, Lobenstein has played in 59 of 67 sets, while Ostman has played in 56. Lobenstein is second on the team with 134 kills, trailing only Amanda Dachs (157). Ostman's 89 digs are fourth on the squad, though what she contributes won't always show up in the box score.
When she's on the court, Ostman is emerging as a confident, vocal leader.
"I think throughout my whole volleyball career I've been trained to be very vocal and that's one thing we really strive for here," she said.
It's been a rough stretch for the 5-15 (0-8 SEC) Bulldogs, who have dropped eight straight matches. Stemke, Lobenstein and Ostman spoke for this story on Oct. 18, after a 3-0 loss to Missouri in which Georgia played well for long stretches. Over the weekend, the Dogs lost at Auburn and Alabama.
Asked after the Mizzou loss how the players can stay positive and driven during difficult days, the players said all they can do is keep working hard and keep believing that better days are ahead.
"We always tell each other to have no short-team memory, to let it go," Lobenstein said, "and if we do lose then come back to practice the next day ready to focus on being better the next time."
Said Ostman: "I think we just keep working hard in practice. We stay positive, which is huge, because it's easy when you're not doing too well to just give up and let down. But our team is just so strong and we're not giving up our confidence and we're working really hard every day."
The Bulldogs are back in action Wednesday night against Ole Miss at the Ramsey Center.
John Frierson is a staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can follow him on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
