As two-time defending California Pacific Conference champions the Oaks have high expectations, though they may be tempered by the loss of last season's star-studded senior class. Graduated are two-time Honorable Mention NAIA All-American and Cal Pac Player of the Year Deborah Bekowies, as well as First Team All-Cal Pac and AVCA All-Region selections Sarah Poole and Stephanie Williamson. Replacing a trio which led Menlo to back-to-back NAIA Tournaments, the inaugural Cal Pac Tournament title, and a 26-0 conference record will be no small feat, but the 2010 Oaks will try to do just that as their season gets underway.

Not every piece is missing from Menlo's most recent championship team, however. Senior outside hitter Mia Ortiz led the Oaks in digs (299) and service aces (41) a season ago en route to being named Second Team All-Cal Pac and AVCA All-Southwest Region. In addition to being Menlo's top returner, Ortiz is also the only senior on a team featuring four newcomers and another three Oaks who missed almost all of last season due to injury.

Junior libero/defensive specialist Shelby Goldman has been a key cog in the middle of the court in her two seasons at Menlo, leading the team in digs as a freshman (362) and finishing second (270) last season. She added 21 service aces. Goldman and Ortiz are the only Oaks upperclassmen who took the court for Menlo last season, and are expected to shoulder much of the leadership responsibilities this season. Junior outside hitter Amanda Sutter also returns for the Oaks after sitting out all of the 2009 season and most of the 2008 campaign due to injury.

A group of six solid sophomores could prove to be essential to Menlo's success as they take the next step in their Oaks careers. Stephenie Monderine saw the most action as a freshman, playing in 73 sets and all but two matches. Monderine, an outside hitter, finished the season with 47 kills, 57 assists, 85 digs, 16 blocks, and eight service aces. Fellow outside hitters Mika Mendoza, Stephanie Wertz, and Selina Bumb were reliable of the bench, playing more than 14 matches apiece. Libero/defensive specialist Kaili Miyamoto and setter Tana Berg were sidelined for most of the season with injuries.

Joining the Oaks as junior transfers are three athletes who will get thrown into the fray right away. Middle blocker Briana Moreno arrived from Hartnell College and setter Jessica Atthowe from Golden West College to fill positions of need, while libero/defensive specialist Emelina Garcia adds depth after making the move from Mt. SAC to Menlo. The Oaks lone freshman is libero/defensive specialist Lainey Gordon, who prepped at El Camino High in Sacramento.

Menlo faces a tough task in starting the season again Oregon Tech, which has already posted a 3-2 record and faced the country's top-ranked NAIA team in Fresno Pacific. The Oaks open their home slate on Saturday at 4 p.m. with a rematch against Oregon Tech inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion.