The University’s women’s volleyball team is coming off a season with a break-even 13-13 record overall, and a 4-6 record in conference play. The Cardinals were the eighth seed in the NESCAC tournament and lost in three sets to top-seeded opponent Tufts. However, in regular season play the Cardinals were able to defeat Little Three rival Williams, who would later win the NESCAC tournament. The team is led by Head Coach Gale Lackey, who has coached the program to eight winning seasons in the last decade, and is set to be inducted into the Connecticut Volleyball Hall of Fame this November. With much returning talent, the Cardinals are optimistic for a great season.
The Cardinals return all but two players from 2009 and will add six first-year players to the roster. Four-year starter and all-time assists leader Ellie Healy ’10 graduated last year, but Wesleyan will bring back 2009 NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year and honorable mention All-American Ruby Hernandez ’11. As a junior, Hernandez led the NESCAC in digs with 5.47 per set and was a team tri-captain, sharing the title with Lesley Faulkner ’11, who averaged 1.94 kills per set as a starter, and Stephanie Hucker ’11, who played in every match and contributed 1.31 digs per set.
Other returning Cardinals include Casey Reed ’12, who averaged 3.15 kills per set at the position of outside hitter. Outside player Alissa Santucci ’12 contributed 2.75 kills per set and middle hitter Laura Volgenau ’13 is returning as a rookie starter. Voleganu led the team in blocks (0.80) and added 1.02 kills per set.
The starting setter spot is up for competition among Laura Yim ’13, Christina You ’12, Katie Schad ’13, Jane Pelzoldt ’13, Jeanne McPhee ’13 and Ashley Palmieri ’13. The newcomers to the squad, led by 6’2” middle hitter Monica Leslie ’14, the New England Prep Player of the Year, will bring to the Cardinals both talent and height. Three other newcomers are outside hitters 5’10” or taller, including legacy Kim Farris ’14, daughter of former Wesleyan club volleyball player Gail Jenkins Farris ’84.
The Cards will discover how successful they will be a squad with a pair of matches against regional powerhouses Wellesley (24-10) and Amherst (20-8) on Saturday, Sept. 11. The Cardinals fell short against both Wellesley (3-2) and Amherst (3-1) in their first two matches of the 2009 season, but they hope to kick off the 2010 season on a better note.
The first home match is Wednesday, Sept. 15 vs. Keene State.
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