Lehigh University Athletics
Volleyball to start 2009 season this weekend
8/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball team heads out on the road today, for an action packed first weekend to the 2009 season. The Mountain hawks will travel to Peoria, Ill., for the Hotels at Grand Prairie Invitational at Bradley University, where they will play four matches in two days.
Lehigh will open up against IUPUI bright and early Friday morning at 10 a.m. The team will then play the waiting game until its second match against USC-Upstate at 5:30 p.m.
The action starts right back up Saturday as Lehigh will play against the host, Bradley University, at 12:30 p.m. After a short resting period the Mountain Hawks will be right back on the court when they take on Chicago State at 5:30 p.m.
After wrapping up a great preseason head coach Jenny Maurer is very pleased at the progression the Mountain Hawks made over the last few weeks.
“I think we really progressed as the preseason went on,” Maurer said. “I love our team chemistry right now, and I think we’re in a great place. We have to stay focused on our goals and raise the expectations as the season starts.”
Lehigh will have their first chance to show how hard they have worked this preseason during this weekend’s tournament.
“This is going to be four great tests for us,” Maurer said. “It should really give us a good sense of where we’re at and I know we will compete in every match.”
Here is how the Mountain Hawks stack up heading into the 2009 season.
Seniors
With only one senior on the roster this year, the Mountain Hawks will look to co-captain Mo McReynolds for leadership and guidance. McReynolds saw time in 92 sets last season, totaling 225 kills, 651 total attacks, 93 digs, 27 blocks, and 34 service aces. “One of the greatest things to come out of our spring season was Mo’s growth as a leader. She not only became more comfortable with her role as captain, she also learned a crucial characteristic which great leaders possess, and that is she helped to create an environment where other players can step up and demonstrate leadership as well. As a result, she made everyone feel accountable and instrumental to our team’s success. Mo may be the only senior, but she is by no means on an island. Everyone, players and coaches alike, want to see Mo end her playing career at Lehigh on the highest note possible,” says Maurer.
Juniors
Sophomores
Also returning are seven sophomores: Emily Flanagan, Angelika Kopacz, Jessica Kudirka, Emma Melendez, Brittany Reichwein, Chelsea Sheridan, and Rebecca Slegers.
Reichwein has the most experience of the seven, seeing time in 41 sets last season. She recorded 40 kills, 141 total attacks, 16 digs, and seven blocks. Kopacz, Kudirka, and Slegers saw time in all 28 matches. Kudirka led the team with an average of 5.62 assists per set, and ranked second on the team with 26 service aces. She totaled 167 digs, 96 attacks, and seven blocks on the season. Slegers led the team with .64 blocks per set, and also in solo blocks, recording 14, which ranked among the Patriot League leaders. She totaled 321 kills, 322 attacks, and 61 blocks for the season.
Kopacz led the team in kills with 305 for the season. She also ranked sixth in the Patriot League and averaged a team high with 3.18 kills per set. Kopacz, who earned a trio of Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors, was also ranked second on the team with 184 digs on the season, behind Melendez with 204.
Melendez saw time in 25 matches, leading the team in total digs, and averaging a team high of 3.59 digs per set. She also ranked second in the Patriot League in digs per set. Melendez recorded 22 service aces and 294 total digs on the season. Sheridan led the team with a hitting percentage of .182, and ranked second on the team with .57 blocks per set. She also recorded 303 total attacks, 107 kills, 37 digs, and 46 blocks on the season.
Finishing off this talented sophomore class is Flanagan. Seeing time in just 21 matches, she recorded a .179 hitting percentage, and ranked third on the team with .43 blocks per set. Flanagan also recorded a total of 95 attacks, 15 digs, and 21 blocks.
Freshmen
Three freshmen round out this year’s roster including Margy Acton, Taylor Poole, and the most recent addition, Hannah Bennett. Maurer believes that the freshmen will have a valuable impact on the team.
“I am confident that both Margy and Taylor can compete right away for court time. Both ladies come from excellent high school and club programs and have played and excelled at a high level. I don’t expect them to be phased by college-level competition,” Maurer says. “Hannah, out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a pleasant surprise to whom we offered a roster position upon her performance at camp. Beyond her imposing physical presence, Hannah demonstrates the potential physical skills and leadership qualities we look for in a student-athlete. We are looking forward to watching her progress right away.”
