New and Improved
Women's Volleyball Team Adds Five Frosh to Vet Nucleus;
Opens 1998 Season Saturday at F&M Tournament
SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - Sixth-year Susquehanna University women's volleyball head coach Bill Switala believes his 1998 squad could be better then his 18-13 team of a year ago, despite returning just one full-time starter and graduating three players who set eight school records between them.
That's because all five of his returning letterwinners have at least some starting experience, while his five freshmen should better some of the deficiencies in last season's lineup. While the 1997 team achieved with that lineup - including a 5-2 record and third-place finish in the tough Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League - it was primarily defensive in nature and sometimes lacked the offensive depth to put points away. Switala believes his 1998 team offers a more complete package and is optimistic of its chances of making the expanded Middle Atlantic Conference Championship Tournament. The conference championship event had previously only advanced the top two teams, but the top four on each side will qualify this season.
"If the members of this team want to be outstanding, they can be if they continue to work every day in practice. They have had a great work ethic so far," said Switala. "The kids really seem to be working well together and the personalities are really clicking."
The Crusaders will open the 1998 season this Saturday, September 5, against Marymount College in a 10 a.m. match at Franklin & Marshall's Scramble Tournament.
More depth up front has allowed the team's lone senior, co-captain Christy Herrmann (Havertown/Haverford H.S.), to move back to her more natural position at outside hitter. The 5-6 Herrmann was a second-team MAC Commonwealth League All-Star in 1996 at that position as she led the team in kills with 219 (2.26 per game). Presently second in career digs at the school with 907 (Record: 1,074, Nichole Crescenzo, 1994-97), she was the team MVP as a middle blocker last season while posting the second most digs in a season ever at Susquehanna with a team-leading 321 to rank 10th in the MAC (2.84 per game). She was also second last season in blocks with 69 (45 solo) and third in both kills and hitting percentage with 200 (1.77 per game) and a .231 clip respectively. Also a two-time selection to the MAC All-Academic Team, Herrmann is back at Susquehanna after studying in Australia last spring. She played on an Australian club volleyball team while she was abroad.
"We're expecting good things from Christy both on and off the court this season. She's our true leader on the court," said Switala.
A pair of junior outside hitters could join Herrmann in the starting lineup this season in 5-6 Missy Kuruzovich (Johnstown/Westmont Hilltop H.S.) and 5-11 Jen Mitman (Perkasie/Pennridge H.S.). Mitman will start when the team is serving to start the match.
A starter as a defensive specialist in each of her first two seasons, Kuruzovich has dramatically improved her offensive game over the summer, allowing her now to also start up front. She was bothered by a knee injury last season which kept her out of 19 games, although she still managed to total 186 digs (1.92 per game).
Mitman was the team's Most Improved Player a year ago and appears to have continued that improvement in the off-season. She came on late a year ago to finish with 95 kills (1.40 per game) and a hitting percentage of .206.
As if three outside hitters aren't enough, two-year letterwinner and 5-8 junior Jenn Ashton (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro H.S.) and 5-10 freshman Brittaney Snoke (Shippensburg/Shippensburg H.S.) provide even more depth at the position.
A starter at the start of last season, Ashton is particularly valuable because she "can play any position on the floor" according to Switala. She had 72 kills (0.99 per game) and 86 digs (1.18 per game) in 73 games a year ago.
A pair of talented freshmen will man the middle in 5-9 Trisha Moore (Wysox/Towanda H.S.) and 5-10 Sarah Lauro (Collegeville/Villa Maria Academy).
Moore was a first-team Northern Tier League and district All-Star the past two seasons, helping her team win the league and district championships in each of those seasons. She played every minute of the team's recent six-game scrimmage against a group of alumni and Switala believes she has the best work ethic of any player he's ever coached.
Lauro, meanwhile, was captain of her team last season and played on a 30-3 state championship team in 1996. While her new coach believes "she has excellent court awareness," he says she needs to work on her transition approach.
Lauro's setter this season will be the same as the one on her state championship squad in sophomore co-captain Erin Leslie (Exton/Villa Maria Academy). The only pure setter on the team, the 5-5 Leslie began last season as a starting setter due to an injury to career assist leader Stacey Depew. She went on to play in 111 games and record 184 digs (1.66 per game) and 59 assists (0.53 per game). She was also third on the team in service aces with 57 (0.51 per game). Leslie added some much-needed muscle in the off-season and Switala believes that will help make her a more consistent player this year.
While Herrmann, Kuruzovich and Leslie are some of the best defensive players on the team, 5-5 freshman defensive specialist Meg Chapyak (Nashua, N.H./Nashua H.S.) should even add more strength as a starter when the team receives to start the match. Chapyak had one of the highest digging percentages in Nashua High School history and helped lead her team to the New Hampshire Class L state championship last season.
At just 5-3, fellow freshman and defensive specialist Courtney Lewis (Bethlehem/Freedom High School) may be the best serve receiver on the team and should provide even more defensive depth.
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