The Shippensburg University volleyball team has reached the PSAC semifinals in each of the last three seasons under head coach Leanne Piscotty, but the Lady Raiders are hoping to get one step farther and do something since Piscotty’s first season in 2004: reach the PSAC Championship game.
SU enters the 2010 campaign with a youth-laden roster that boasts just three juniors and no seniors. Five integral seniors have departed the roster, but seven talented freshmen and one junior transfer will be joining a group of nine talented returning players.
Piscotty and assistant coach Abby Leonard have continually guided the program to success at the conference and regional level. Shippensburg has recorded five seasons of at least 21 wins over the last six years and is looking to maintain this consistency.
MIDDLE
Shippensburg will have to deal with the undeniable loss of
Kali Antolik, a dynamic, three-time All-PSAC middle blocker who holds the school record for block assists. Several candidates, including dynamic returning players, will compete for regular playing time in the middle this season.
Junior
Libby Woffindin will be an integral team leader this season and figures to see regular time at middle hitter. Through two seasons, Woffindin has appeared in 69 games while averaging 175 kills and 55 blocks per campaign. She has accrued significant experience and can be rotated to right side as well.
Sophomore
Erin Flick boasts size and displayed some of her hitting and blocking skill last season with 19 kills and 10 blocks. She hopes to continue making strides this season. Flick could either play the middle or slide over and function as an outside hitter.
A pair of true freshmen will be vying for regular playing time at middle blocker this season.
Tessa Bivens becomes the second player to join the Lady Raiders from Virginia Beach and is a three-time all-district selection.
Mariah Mahlendorf is a native of upstate New York and was a two-time team MVP for her high-school squad.
Fellow sophomore
Andrea Heimsoth became an integral setter in her debut season and figures to once again be among the primary contributors this season. Heimsoth totaled 994 assists, 35 kills and 18 blocks as a freshman and will be one of the more experienced players on the squad despite having played just one full season with Shippensburg.
Junior transfer
Julie Fye has been a setter for two seasons at the University of North Florida and joins the Lady Raiders this season. The native of Huntingdon is expected to see time along with Heimsoth this season and the two will likely battle for a starting spot.
OUTSIDE
Along the exterior, SU will have to make up for the loss of
Colleen Toomey, one of just four players in school history with 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs, and
Hannah Sorber, an All-PSAC First Team pick last year that led the team in kills and ranks second in SU history for career block assists.
Sophomore
Jenny Pry impressed last season as an outside hitter with triple-digit kills and digs. She displayed significant prowess on offense and will continue to see time on the attack this season.
Two other sophomores,
Rachel Smicker and
Erica Williams, also return along the outside. Smicker was a strong blocker, finishing fourth on the team in total blocks as a freshman, and can rotate between the middle block and the outside. Williams took a redshirt last season is eager to make a contribution as an outside hitter.
Two extremely talented freshmen join the Lady Raiders and are seeking to make an immediate impact.
Jill Edwards, an outside hitter from North Carolina, was a three-time all-conference selection that racked up kills at a regular rate in high school.
Samantha Edwards, who has no relation to Jill, has thrived as a right side in Maryland and had an outstanding senior season in high school. Both players will be given a chance to compete for starting spots.
DEFENSE
A variety of candidates could see regular time as a defensive specialist. Junior
Lauren Bauer is the most veteran returning defensive player but battled injury last season. She has a strong work ethic and has totaled 25 digs overall. Sophomore
Karla Peterson is seeking to expand her role after making her debut last season.
Another sophomore,
Lauren Murphy, increased her playing time as the season wore on and became a regular libero for Shippensburg in the last two months of the season. Murphy rounded out the year with 100 digs and figures to be a regular contributor this season.
Three freshmen join the club to help with the defensive roles.
Ashley Merton was a four-year letterwinner at Penncrest high school and thrived as a defensive specialist and right side.
Ellie Ressler, like Bauer, is a Hempfield High School alum and was a dynamic player for the Knights. Murphy will be joined at the libero position by
Amanda Shortridge, an all-conference and all-area selection as a senior for West Chester East High School.
