2008 Clarion University Volleyball Team

Aug. 25, 2008

CLARION HOPING THAT YOUTH RULES THE DAY IN 2008 Golden Eagle must replace eight seniors; have 11 freshmen on the roster CLARION - The Clarion University women's volleyball team is hoping that youth will rule the day in 2008.

The Golden Eagles, after all, don't really have much choice considering eight seniors are gone from last year's team, one of the best in school history - the Golden Eagles went 28-6 overall, 7-3 PSAC-West, finished second at the PSAC Tournament, their highest finish since second in 1989, and won an NCAA Division II playoff game for the first time in school history. The NCAA Playoff appearance was Clarion's second straight and its fifth in the past six years.

In place of those seniors will be 11 freshmen, who while talented, have never played in a single collegiate volleyball set let alone a full match. Add that to the fact that Clarion's only two returning starters are sophomores and the team has just one senior on it and the Golden Eagles are about as young as a team can be, and growing pains should be expected.

"We have the talent to have a successful season." Clarion's second-year head coach Jennifer Harrison said. "But with us being so young there are going to be some ups and downs. I think if we are extremely disciplined with our system and our training its only going to help us improve as the year goes on."

Because of the number of young players Clarion will have in key positions, patience will be the watchword for the Golden Eagles.

"We are going to have to have patience," Harrison said. "With so many young people, there really isn't a choice. I would imagine that we are going to get better as the year goes on. But you are hoping for that in any season. You are hoping to peak toward the end of the season and hopefully make a playoff run when you are playing your best volleyball."

The most experienced players Clarion has coming back are sophomore middle hitters Nicole Andrusz (Lockport, NY/Starpoint) and Sarah Sheffield (Attica, NY/Attica) and junior defensive specialists Katie Aurand (Whitmore Lake, Mich./Ladywood) and Joy Carey (Lancaster/Manheim Twp.).

Andrusz was one of the top freshmen in the PSAC last season with 199 kills (1.78 kpg) and 72 blocks, while Sheffield had 94 kills (1.16 kpg) and 58 blocks as a rookie.

"Both Sarah and Nikki are expected to be key players," Harrison said. "Both are definitely expected to lead, and both are working hard to lead by example. They have both developed into more complete volleyball players this year where as last year they were more single-tool players."

Aurand, meanwhile, is Clarion's top returning defensive player having recorded 176 digs (1.85 dpg) in 2007, while Carey, in limited action, recorded 53 digs.

"Katie and Micky (Joy's nickname) both saw time last year and both had improved tremendously on their defense and serve receive," Harrison said.

While the Golden Eagles do have a little bit of experience returning, they must replace key players at four positions - setter, Libero and both outside hitter spots.

Kristi Fiorillo, one of the top setters in school history - she led the PSAC and ranked 19th in the nation in set assists last year while being named second-team PSAC-West - has graduated.

Three players have been battling to replace her in fall practice including senior Dani Hughes (Clarion/Clarion) and freshmen Amanda Gough (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) and Marissa Graydon (West Friendship, MD/Marriotts Ridge).

"It's been a pretty heated battle between Amanda and Dani all preseason," Harrison said. "Between the two of them, we are going to find our starting setter.

"Dani has a better feel for my expectations, and she has been making better decisions this fall," Harrison said. "Amanda has some intangibles that are tough to ignore. She is smooth, she has a nice touch on the ball, she knows how to run an offense and she is strong. She has unlimited potential."

Hughes, in limited action last season, had 72 assists as Fiorillo's backup, while Gough, as a high school senior, led her team to a 32-4 record a year ago while also setting school records for assists in a career, season and game.

No matter who wins the setter battle, they will be setting two new outside hitters, as Clarion has graduated first-team PSAC-West and All-Region hitters Sarah Fries, who is now the Golden Eagles graduate assistant, and Christina Steiner. Fries finished fourth in the PSAC in kills per game last season and finished her career 713 career kills, while Steiner was second in the PSAC in kills per game last season and finished her career as one of just three players in school history with 1,000 career kills (1,334 - 3rd in school history) and digs (1,143 - 11th in school history).

Two returning players - junior Amanda Stefanov (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake, 21 kills) and sophomore Leeann Higginbotham (Greensburg/Hempfield, 37 kills) - and three freshmen - Kaelyn Marcus (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton), Kellie Bartman (New Eagle/Ringgold) and Danielle Brunot (Guys Mills/Maplewood) - are fighting for playing time, while freshmen Casey Anderson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) and Kaitlyn Anderson (Lusby, MD/Patuxent) good also see action.

"Things are going to change here for a while with so many young players," Harrison said. "There are little things that will make a difference between winning and losing. The players are just now in practice beginning to see those things. Once that clicks, we will be okay. But I am anxious to see how they respond to outside competition."

On defense, Clarion must replace Honorable Mention AVCA All-American Libero Vicky Gentile, the school's all-time leading digger. Gentile, a four-year starter who recorded 2,559 digs in her career - 559 more than her nearest competitor - including finishing second in the PSAC in digs per game last year with 6.29 was also a second-team PSAC-West choice and an AVCA All-Region selection last season.

Freshman Rhianon Brady (Winchester, OH/Canal Winchester) has stepped into the Libero spot after being an Honorable Mention All-Oho selection at outside hitter in high school.

"Rhianon has been our top player in practice," Harrison said.

As for the defensive specialist spot, Harrison said it has been a wide-open battle for the position with Aurand, Carey, freshman Kayla Rodak (Canton, OH/Glenoak) and junior Alison Bolinger (Clarion/Clarion; 13 digs) all competiting hard for the position.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES - Clarion opens the season Friday and Saturday when it hosts the Clarion Tournament. The Golden Eagles first match is at 3 p.m. Friday vs. Tiffin. Clarion also plays at 5 p.m. Friday vs. Notre Dame College and then again at 10 a.m. Saturday vs. Holy Family and at 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Davis & Elkins ... Clarion starts PSAC-West play Sept. 2 at defending PSAC Champion California and opens PSAC-West home play at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 with IUP. The PSAC-West slate is vastly different this year with the addition of Mercyhurst and Gannon to the PSAC. Both of the new schools will be in the PSAC-West along with Clarion, California, Edinboro, IUP and Slippery Rock, while Lock Haven has moved from the PSAC-West to the PSAC-East where it will join East Stroudsburg, Cheyney, Kutztown, Millersville, Shippensburg and West Chester. Because of the addition of the new teams the top four teams in each division instead of the top three will advance to the PSAC Tournament.