Season Preview: Mountain Hawks ready to return to championship in 2015

8/26/2015 1:55:00 PM | Volleyball

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Looking to build upon back-to-back 20-plus win seasons and a 2014 Patriot League Championship match appearance, the Lehigh volleyball team looks to make its fifth-straight Patriot League Tournament appearance during the 2015 campaign. The Mountain Hawks open the 2015 this weekend at the JMU Classic.

"We got through preseason without too many injuries, which is always good," said 2014 Patriot League Coach of the Year Bob Bertucci. "I think we still have a lot of work to do and our level of success will depend on the student-athletes' commitment levels as we go forward."

Bertucci enters his fifth season at the helm with five seniors who will look to lead a group of two juniors, six sophomores and five freshmen. The team is faced with the task of replacing two graduated seniors in 2014 first team All-League player Jade Van Streepen and Kaylynn Genemaras.

"We lost some significant leadership in the program with the graduation of Jade and Kaylynn," explained Bertucci. "It will be tough to replace last year's two seniors, but we're working to figure out how to fill that void."

Three Mountain Hawks were named to the preseason All-Patriot League team, including Lehigh's returning senior setter Amy Matula. Matula earned first team All-League status following her standout junior season in which she tallied 1,085 assists, good for an average of 9.86 that ranked second in the Patriot League. Sophomores Bonaire Berry and Stephanie Stieber and freshman Megan Polak will also be important contributors at the setting position.

"We're deep in terms of numbers in the setting position since we have four setters, which is more than most teams will carry," explained Bertucci. "Amy Matula returning and being a three year starter for us is pretty key. The other players are getting better and I think that will make us even more solid in that position. The challenge will be utilizing them to the best of their abilities."

The Mountain Hawks return the 2014 Patriot League Libero of the Year in junior Mariah Brantley, who also earned preseason All-League status. Brantley put together a standout sophomore campaign in which she set new Lehigh single-season records in digs (600) and digs per set (5.41). Brantley will be complimented by sophomore Hannah Chalk and freshman Emily Develle in the libero/defensive specialist position.

"Hannah has come back in good shape and Emily is a fantastic addition to our program," said Bertucci. "We have a really solid group there and it'll just be a question of how we utilize the three of them to maximize our team play. Everyone is going to have to fill in and fit in in the way that works best for the team."

Lehigh's group of right side hitters will be led by preseason All-League selection and 2014 first team All-League honoree senior Stephanie Slater. Slater finished second on the team with 265 kills and a strong .277 attack percentage that ranked sixth in the Patriot League during the 2014 season. Slater will be supported by a pair of newcomers in freshmen Victoria Hemsath and Jane McCann.

"Steph had a great junior year and we hope she's going to have just as good of a year for us this year," said Bertucci. "Tori and Jane both had strong preseasons and we're excited about what they can contribute on the court."

With the departure of the team's leading point scorer from a season ago in Van Streepen, Bertucci sees the outside hitter position as the toughest to fill heading into the 2015 season. Senior Leah Turner and sophomore Whitney Krantz will bring prior experience to the position as the two combined to tally more than 200 kills a season ago. Freshman Hannah Wagner will also join the pair on the outside.

"Whitney had some good playing time as a freshman, so it's going to be a matter of how she matures and develops in the position," said Bertucci. "Leah stepped in significantly and with great success at the end of last season and she's been looking very strong so far in preseason. It's going to be a question of who can play consistently strong for us. We really need somebody to step up and put the ball away."

Senior Ana Vrhel will lead Lehigh's contingent of middle blockers after registering a team-high .311 attack percentage a season ago to go along with 50 total blocks and a team-best 25 solo stuffs. Sophomore Kelly Bennett and junior Katie Jennison will join Vrhel in the middle after combining to stuff 56 blocks during last year's campaign.

"We're a little light in terms of numbers at the middle blocking position, but we feel good about the girls we have there," said Bertucci. "They're healthy, fit and ready to play."

Senior Claire Bradshaw, a versatile player who has seen action all over the court, will be Lehigh's go-to utility player. Bradshaw served as the Mountain Hawks' serving and defensive specialist and has sense developed in others areas on the court as well. Sophomore Natasha Van Streepen will compliment Bradshaw in the utility role.

"Claire was our serving and defensive specialist last year and she's done a great job stepping into whatever the team needs," said Bertucci. "She never neglects the serving and defensive sides of her game because we'll always need her to do that and she's always willing to help in any position."

The Mountain Hawks made their fourth-straight Patriot League Tournament appearance in 2014 and first championship match appearance since 2002. Lehigh finished the 2014 season with a 22-10 overall record and 14-2 mark in league play that included handing eventual champion American its only league loss. After finishing 2013 with a 20-9 record, the Mountain Hawks recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1981 and 1982 and just the second time in program history.

While Bertucci is happy with the talent the 2015 squad returns, he knows the league has grown stronger and making it back to the championship will be a tough task.

"This league has taken tremendous strides forward since I began at Lehigh five years ago," said Bertucci. "I think the top of the league will be much more even and competitive this year and expect that it will be a tough, yet attainable, challenge for us to return to the Patriot League Tournament."

To get back to the postseason, Bertucci feels that big-time players need to emerge.

"Our strength is that we have pretty good depth," said Bertucci. "If someone gets hurt or is having a bad day, we have someone right behind them who can go in and there won't be much dropoff. But our weakness is that we need some players to step up and become standouts. It's going to take time and it's going to take somebody stepping up."

The 2015 season gets underway at the JMU Classic Friday and Saturday, with Lehigh's season-opening match set for 11 a.m. Friday against Northern Arizona. The Mountain Hawks make their home debut in Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall the following weekend, Sept. 4-5, when Lehigh hosts the Crosstown Invitational.

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