Young at Heart

SELINSGROVE, Pa. — Last season, the Susquehanna University volleyball team used its youth to its advantage en route to a second-place finish in the Commonwealth Conference and a 17-12 overall record.

Even with the loss of the team’s top two hitters from last season, another stream of young talent should push the Crusaders back into the hunt for a berth in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs.

Now in his ninth season in charge of the Crusaders, head coach Bill Switala is optimistic about a 12-player roster that features six freshmen and two sophomores.

“We have a great blend of new and returning offensive weapons to draw upon,” said Switala, who at 131-114 is the winningest coach in program history. “ Our offense will be the most advanced in years. Defensively, we return all of our starters which should enable us to set up a very quick offensive system. They are also critical with all of the rule changes that have occurred this season.”

Without a doubt, the biggest rule change for 2001 is the introduction of the rally scoring system, in which points will be scored on all plays regardless of which team serves. The first four games of a match will be played until a team scores 30 points, while the fifth game will be played to 15. As before, the winning team must lead by two points.

Leading the attack for the Crusaders will be two-year captain and senior outside hitter Lydia Steward (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola H.S.). Last season, the 5-8 Steward shattered the school single-season record for digs with 468 in 99 games and finished 22nd in Division III with an average of 4.73 digs per game to earn team Most Valuable Player honors.

Steward, who recorded a single-match record 36 digs against Elizabethtown on October 4, enters the 2001 season just 322 digs away from becoming the third player in Susquehanna history to record 1,000 career digs. Offensively, she ranked third on the team with 227 kills and hit .233.

“Her continued excellence both on and off the court helps to keep our team focused and motivated,” said Switala. “She is both an offensive threat and a defensive safeguard for us.”

In the middle, 5-11 freshman Kerri Eshleman (Landisville, PA/Hempfield H.S.) will be counted on from day one to provide an intimidating force against the opposition after leading the team in kills and blocks two straight years in high school.

“Potentially, Kerri is the most dominate middle hitter in the conference,” said Switala. “With improvement to the little details of her game, she will be the big threat that all teams will be forced to deal with.”

One of the biggest keys to the success of last season’s team was the play of 5-4 setter Robin Clarke (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon Area H.S.). As a freshman, she finished second in the Commonwealth Conference in assists per game (9.23), dishing off a school-record 886 assists in 96 games. Clarke posted 49 or more assists in a match on four occasions, including a season-high 53 against Elizabethtown.

“Our record-breaking setter will add stability and guidance to our team,” Switala said. “Robin’s increased vertical leap has enabled her to expand her already crucial role on our team.”

The Crusaders are well-stocked defensively, with juniors Nicole Azar (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall H.S.) and Becki Bert (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff H.S.) back in the starting lineup and sophomore Natalie Costa (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon Area H.S.) off the bench.

The 5-6 Bert, one of two players to play in all 100 games last season, finished second on the squad and sixth in the Commonwealth Conference with 3.22 digs per game. She also led the team and ranked fourth in the league in service aces with 51 (0.51 average). Meanwhile, the 5-6 Azar averaged 2.96 digs per game in 2000 to rank ninth in the conference and the 5-6 Costa tallied 166 digs in 87 games (1.91 average).

On offense, joining Steward and Eshleman will be 5-9 senior outside hitter Brittaney Snoke (Shippensburg, PA/Shippensburg H.S.) and 5-7 freshman outside hitter Sara Weller (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge H.S.).

Snoke averaged 1.09 kills per game in 78 games last season while Weaver led Pennridge in kills and earned Suburban One first-team All-Star honors.

Another freshman who could be an immediate contributor is 5-4 setter Liz Kelley (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle H.S.), a two-time team MVP who recorded 1,563 career assists at Carlisle High School and earned 2000 Player of the Year honors from the Carlisle Sentinel.

“Sara will be a powerful all-around threat for us, while Liz will be a solid complement to Robin (Clarke) at setter,” said Switala.

Rounding out the roster are a trio of freshmen — 5-5 defensive specialist Tabitha Adams (Mineral Point, PA/Conemaugh Valley H.S.), 6-1 middle blocker Marissa Gaulton (Havertown, PA/Haverford H.S.) and 5-6 outside hitter Erin Weller (Huntingdon, PA/Huntingdon Area H.S.).

An aggressive early-season schedule sees the Crusaders open with five consecutive road matches, including tournaments at nationally-ranked Franklin & Marshall as well as St. Vincent College, Switala’s alma mater.

Susquehanna opens the home schedule on Saturday, September 15 with matches against Baptist Bible at 10:30 a.m. and Alvernia at 1 p.m.

“The women are very focused on improving and achieving our goals,” said Switala. “The level of effort thus far has been outstanding and I look forward to it continuing.”