KUTZTOWN, PA (August 27, 2010) – With 14 student-athletes returning, the Kutztown University volleyball team has the experience, talent and motivation to challenge for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division championship in 2010.
“I am excited about this year because we made so much progress during the course of last season and then things ended with a tough loss at home in the playoffs,” Kutztown head coach John Gump said. “We've been looking forward to having a chance to get back to work since November 11, 2009. I expect to see our team pick up where we left off last season and push to have an even better year in 2010.”
The Golden Bears won 16 matches in 2009 and finished second in the PSAC East behind Lock Haven before falling to Shippensburg in the PSAC playoffs. This season, Kutztown has raised the bar as it is looking to return to the NCAA Atlantic Region championship tournament for the first time since 2007.
With a strong senior class led by Nora Alexander (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth-Whitemarsh), Jamie Celia (Douglassville, PA/Daniel Boone), Lindsay Confer (Wingate, PA/Bald Eagle), Kelsey Nester (Catasauqua, PA/Catasauqua) and Megan O'Connell (Horsham, PA/Hatboro- Horsham), the Golden Bears are confident they can accomplish all of their goals.
“It's a great mix of personalities,” Gump said. “We have a couple of outgoing, emotional players in this group and a couple of more reserved, stoic types. While their personalities differ, they all have a strong desire for this team to be as good as it can be and a commitment to giving their best effort to whatever role they play.”
They will be joined by juniors Erin Kissling (York, PA/Central York), Katie Lutz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim), Lindsey Smith (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic), Caitlin Hess and Cali Snell (York, PA/York Suburban) along with sophomores Dana Wright (Warminster, PA/Saint Basil Academy), Kimberlee Gomber (Washington, PA/Washington), Brianna Risch (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) and Kelsea Ashworth (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle).
Many of the returning players had key roles in 2009.
Gump is expecting the quartet of Confer, Nester, Kissling and Harman to continue to improve. They will rotate on the left side. Confer is one of the best players in the PSAC. She led the Golden Bears with 212 kills and enters the season with 817 for her career, which is seventh on the all-time KU volleyball list. Nester added 101 kills as the Golden Bears had four players finish with over 100 kills. Kissling made the most of her time on the floor by contributing 93 kills and 21 blocks while playing in 61 sets. Harman had 21 kills in 2009.
Snell was a pillar on the right side for the Golden Bears with 164 kills and 83 blocks, both marks were second on the team. Hess, a 6 foot, 1 inch transfer from Wilmington University, will provide more depth on the right side. Ashworth, who had 13 kills last season, is also expected to see some action along the front line this season.
In the middle, Lutz led the Golden Bears with 87 blocks last season. She also added 127 kills. With their height, power and quickness Snell, Lutz and Hess are going to be keys up front for Kutztown this season. All three players stand at least 6 feet. Kutztown finished fifth in the PSAC in blocks per game (2.05) in 2009.
“I believe ball handling will be our biggest key this season,” Gump said. “We have more size than we have ever had and if we can consistently pass ourselves into system on offense, we have a chance to be very good.”
Handling the setting responsibilities will be the duo of Wright and Gomber, who combined for 816 assists a year ago. Wright led the Golden Bears with 525 assists and she also had 244 digs. Wright handed out 30 or more assists four times last year including a career best 36 against West Chester.
Celia was named to the PSAC East second team last year and is probably the Golden Bears' most versatile performer. She led the team with 51 service aces and 391 digs. Celia enters the season needing 11 service aces to become Kutztown's all-time leader in that category. Celia and Smith finished second (0.58) and third (0.55), respectively in the PSAC in service aces per game.
The Golden Bears also have five freshmen ready to make an immediate impact: Liz DiValerio (King of Prussia, PA/Upper Merion), Chynna Gehman (Fleetwood, PA/Brandywine Heights), Nicole Brumbley (Oxford, PA/Oxford), Emily Heppler (Newtown Square, PA/Marple Newtown) and Jordan Laverty (Aston, PA/Chichester). They all had outstanding high school careers and Gump believes they are the perfect fit for his program. Gehman and Heppler will play on left side. Brumbley will play in the middle while DiValerio will see action on the right side. Laverty will play primarily on defense for the Golden Bears.
“We're not very deep in the middle, so Nicole Brumbley (Oxford, PA/Oxford) will be someone who may have an opportunity to contribute early on,” Gump said. “Chynna Gehman (Fleetwood, PA/Brandywine Heights) will push hard for playing time on the left side and on defense. Liz DiValerio (King of Prussia, PA/Upper Merion) is very versatile and somebody we can plug in as a hitter on either antenna.”
Kutztown begins its season against Le Moyne in the annual Kutztown Classic on Friday, September 3. The Golden Bears will also battle College of Saint Rose and C.W. Post in the KU Classic on Saturday, September 4. Kutztown will also participate in the West Chester Ram Fest and make trips to Clarion and Slippery Rock.
The Golden Bears begin their pursuit of a PSAC East title on Friday, September 24 when it visits Cheyney University. The following afternoon, the Golden Bears host West Chester University. Kutztown concludes its regular season schedule on the road at reigning PSAC East champion Lock Haven on Saturday, November 6.
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