MCLA Volleyball Looks to Keep Building

The MCLA Trailblazers have high expectations heading into the 2010 volleyball season. Coach Amanda Beckwith has a very solid nucleus returning and is very excited about her incoming recruiting class. Kristen Robillard (Swansea, MA/Case) was the Division III Volleyball Player of the Year and set her high school team to a state championship.  The rest of the newcomers expected to make an impact are Chelsea Halsted (Hudson, NY/Columbia Greene CC) as an outside hitter; Kelley Bryant (West Springfield, MA/West Springfield) a defensive specialist and Sunday Republican All-Scholastic; and Jill Gariepy (Tewksbury, MA/Academy of Notre Dame) middle/right side hitter.

The Trailblazers finished the 2009 campaign 11-13 including a solid 7-3 record at home. The 11 wins is the most the Trailblazers have had in the Beckwith era and look to now make the next jump with five of their top six players returning.

The Trailblazers return their top three hitters in Christina Kidd (Glens Falls, NY/Glens Falls), Kayla Bromback (Lee, MA/Lee) and Amanda Borsotti (Lee, MA/Lee). The trio all had over 100 kills last season, with Bromback leading the team with 171. MCLA also returns veterans Tasha Berroa (Brooklyn, NY/Grand Street) and Hayley Gunderson (Gansevoort, NY/South Glen Falls). Gunderson was an important piece for the Trailblazers, playing several different roles in the Trailblazers attack.

The defense will be led by senior Amanda Lane (Swansea, MA/Case); last season Lane had over 400 digs to lead the team.

The one void the Trailblazers have is the loss of All-conference selection Marta Brown. Brown is the Trailblazers record holder in assists. Gunderson is going to fill the role of setter this season and was second on the team last year in assists.

Beckwith is looking forward to reaching new heights this year. "I expect to make the post-season MASCAC Tourney.  Our team is quicker, better conditioned and more dominant at the net than any team we have had her in the past.  We have a core of seniors who will anchor our team and lead us to a winning season."

MCLA will open the season on September 4th with a tri-match at Eastern Nazarene. The Trailblazers will also face St. Joseph's (CT) that weekend. The home opener is September 14th versus Colby-Sawyer.  The Trailblazers will take on 2009 MASCAC champion Westfield State at home in the regular season finale on October 30th.