SELINSGROVE, PA - The Susquehanna University women's volleyball team seeks new heights in 2006, thanks in large part to its height.

Fourth-year head coach John Tom has assembled a starting lineup that features all six starters standing 5 feet, 10 inches or taller, as the Crusaders look to return to the postseason after compiling a 20-16 overall record and 2-5 mark in the Commonwealth Conference in 2005.

The Crusaders' lone senior is 5-10 Missy Kadingo, who is currently slated to move back to setter after registering 381 kills and team highs of 83 aces and 78 blocks last year.

Kadingo (Orwigsburg, PA/Nativity BVM) enters her senior season ranked fourth in program history in kills (900), sixth in service aces (197) and sixth in blocks (187).

A trio of sophomores are also expected to start - 6-foot Ainsley Catagnus at middle hitter with 5-11 Kristi Beck and 5-10 Kayla Nazelrod at outside hitter.

Catagnus (Reading, PA/Reading Central Catholic) enjoyed a stellar freshman season as she set a school single-season record with 439 kills while hitting.274 to go with 77 blocks and 43 aces.

Beck (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) appeared in 90 games last season and finished with 35 kills, while Nazelrod (Oakland, MD/Southern Garrett) is a transfer from Garrett College, where she led the team with 183 kills and 47 aces last season.

Joining Catagnus at middle hitter is 5-11 freshmen Madeline Hals (Morristown, NJ/Morristown) while 6-3 freshman Katie Peters (Broomall, PA/Marple Newtown) will line up at opposite.

In addition to height, Tom discloses that the defensive specialists are noticeably quicker and consistently more accurate.

Kellye Schroeder (Harleysville, PA/Christopher Dock), a 5-7 sophomore, continues her role at the libero position after she finished second on the team with 323 digs last season.

Additional support will be provided by 5-8 junior Sophie Hall (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and 5-9 sophomore Kathryn Hinsch (Bethpage, NY/Long Island Lutheran) at setter, as well as 5-8 freshman Rebecca Applegate (Timonium, MD/Dulaney) and 5-9 freshman Jess Cicioni (Frackville, PA/North Schuylkill) at outside hitter.

Rounding out the roster at defensive specialist are 5-7 sophomore Gretchen Halsey (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) and 5-5 freshman Erin Dinsmore (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin).