Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –
Bret Stothart will make his Western New England women's volleyball coaching debut when the Golden Bears open their 2011 season at 7:00 pm Thursday (Sept. 1) at Becker in Leicester, Massachusetts.
Stothart, who spent the last six years at Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent Roger Williams, faces a rebuilding season after losing four starters (and three All-Conference performers) from last year's team that finished tied for fourth in the conference with a 6-4 mark and 10-20 overall.
WNE has a young squad with five freshmen and five sophomores on the 14-player roster.
The two seniors are right side hitter
Inna Sergeychik (West Springfield, MA) and defensive specialist
Julie Jackson (Princess Ann, MD). Sergeychik bounced back nicely from an injury that sidelined her for most of the 2009 season and finished second on the team in kills (207). Jackson also saw considerable action and was fourth on the team in service aces (24).
Junior outside hitter
Jenn Mears (Amherst, MA) ranked among the most improved players last fall finishing fourth in digs (157). Her twin sister
Heather Mears plays both the setter and libero positions for the Golden Bears.
Sophomore outside hitter
Maureen Pollet (Dix Hills, NY) and sophomore middle hitter
Ashley McMullen (S. Bethlehem, NY) had solid rookie seasons contributing 165 and 94 kills, respectively. Two other sophomores, outside hitter
Michelle Dyckman (Cortlandt Manor, NY) and middle hitter
Tyler Singh (Dumont, NJ), will challenge for more playing time.
There are six newcomers, sophomore setter
Kelsey Stafford (East Longmeadow, MA) and five freshmen, outside hitters
Kasey Cameron (Reading, MA) and
Carolyn Hajdusek (Northfield, NH), setter/libero
Grace Kucharski (Avon, CT), libero
Kendra Ouimette (Conway, MA), and setter
Val Smith (Norristown, PA).
Despite the youth on his team, Stothart is anxious to get things moving forward
"This preseason was great for us to accomplish a lot in a short period of time. The team has worked very hard and we're excited to start the season ,” he said. “Our upperclassmen have done an outstanding job of welcoming our newcomers, so the team is very clearly coming together and having fun both on and off the court.
“The leadership of the upperclassmen has been great and with 10 freshmen and sophomores, we definitely have a young team, hungry for wins. We are all very excited for the 2011 season and for the future of the Golden Bears volleyball program," Stothart added.
Stothart compiled a 124-74 record (62.6 winning percentage) while at Roger Williams. He was named the CCC Coach-of-the-Year in 2010 after his team won the Conference Championship and participated in the NCAA Division III Championship.
The Emmaus, Pennsylvania native was a former All-American performer at Springfield College. He led the Pride to the Molten Division III National Championship as a junior in 1998 and was selected
Volleyball Magazine Division III Player-of-the-Year.
Contact: Ken Cerino, Western New England athletic communications director (413) 782-1227
kcerino@wne.edu
