As Megan Bober sees it, the Creighton volleyball team's 2010 season didn't only create new expectations for the Bluejays.

The team's strong finish, she said, also erased barriers for what Creighton can achieve.

In the span of a week last fall, the Bluejays broke through for their first appearance in the Missouri Valley championship match, their first NCAA tournament berth and their first NCAA tournament victory. Bober said those accomplishments provided more than enough fuel to keep Creighton's players motivated during the offseason.

"The way we finished last year, I think it just opened so many doors for our program," Bober said. "Just in thinking about how much farther we can go and how much better we can be — and also how much ground we still have to cover. We can't settle now, and we can't be complacent. We have to work even harder to push forward."

Creighton, which held its annual media day Wednesday, is in its second week of practice. The Bluejays play their blue-white scrimmage Saturday and open their season Aug. 26 at the Texas A&M; Invitational.

For coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth, there's a great deal of comfort in knowing that Bober's college career is only at its midpoint. Having Bober back to guide Creighton's attack and provide off-court leadership, Booth said, is key as the Bluejays try to be even better in 2011.

Bober, a 6-foot junior setter from Murdock, Neb., helped Creighton win nine of its last 14 matches on the way to a 21-12 finish. She earned a spot on the honorable mention All-America list, joining former CU middle blockers Kelly Goc (2007) and Jessica Houts (2008) as the only players in program history recognized by the AVCA. Goc and Houts were honored after their senior seasons.

More important to CU's hopes, Booth said, is the way Bober appears to be on a mission.

"Megan already is better than she was last year, and last year she was a pretty dang good setter," Booth said. "It's pretty exciting to think that Megan still has time to keep improving."

Booth also said the arrival of Millard North graduate Michelle Sicner has heated things up in the gym. Sicner, a 6-2 setter, was ranked No. 60 on the PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces list.

The Bluejays, picked to finish third in the Missouri Valley preseason poll, believe they have the pieces in place to challenge league heavyweight Northern Iowa for the conference title. Since opening practice on Aug. 9, Booth and her coaches have been busy trying to determine how and where those pieces will fit together.

Creighton has only two seniors in right-side hitter Karisa Almgren and middle blocker Laurel Sanford, both of them starters in 2010.

Other returners with significant court time include libero Julianne Mandolfo, defensive specialist Brooke Boggs and middle blockers Heather Thorson and Savannah Smith.

Sophomore outside hitters Natalie Hackbarth and Lexi Malm are pushing to get more court time. And Booth said the team's freshmen — Sicner, middle blocker Kelli Browning and outside hitters Leah McNary, Katie Neisler and Lizzy Stivers — have a chance to contribute right away at a variety of positions.

"We have tons of offensive options, and we have a lot of players who can play multiple positions on the court," Bober said. "That's a great problem to have, and we've set some very high goals for this season. We have a lot of confidence that we can achieve them."

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