Lady Blues senior guard Stevi Schultz is looking to start this year’s basketball season off with a bang.

The Neodesha, Kan., native is coming off a stellar 2010-11 season, where she averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game. The 5’9 guard was a first team all-conference and second team all-region. She was also voted MVP of the Lady Blues squad this past season. Despite being named the MVP, Schultz doesn’t consider herself the “star” of the team.

“I truly don’t see myself as ‘the star,'” said Schultz. “We all take certain roles on the team so we can win games and I am just taking the role that needs to be done. During games my teammates and I just play the game together. We worry about getting the win, not who the star is. There were many games last year that I was definitely not the star.”

This season, Schultz will take on a larger leadership role which she said comes natural to her.

“I do enjoy having a leadership role,” said Schultz. “Leading is pretty natural for me. Having a leadership role doesn’t change my style of play. If I had to say it changes anything, it would be it changes my attitude. No matter what attitude I truly have, I must show a positive, determined attitude so others will follow the same attitude. Hopefully that will put us in a better position to win”

Last year, the Lady Blues finished 22-7. The Blues have a majority of their roster returning and the first thing Schultz expects is to have a fun year, because everyone gets along and likes to play together. She also expects the team to push themselves on to bigger and better things.

The Blues have everything they need to accomplish those goals with size, experience and a talented coaching staff that was revamped in the offseason.

Last year, the Blues ended their season in the NCAA Tournament with a heartbreaking 65-64 loss to Central Oklahoma. It was the Lady Blues 10th straight appearance in the tournament.