Volleyball looks to contend for postseason with young team in 2011
Led by Head Coach Amanda Beckwith, the MCLA Volleyball team will look to continue moving forward as they aim to get back to the postseason. A year ago, the Trailblazers finished 14-12, good enough for a spot in the MASCAC playoffs.
North Adams, MA- The 2011 MCLA Volleyball will look to build off its 2010 MASCAC tournament appearance while integrating a lot of new faces. The Trailblazers went 14-12 overall and 3-3 in the MASCAC last season. MCLA finished 4th in the MASCAC and lost in the first round of the conference tournament to Westfield State.
MCLA returns just six players from last season's squad that started the year 6-1. The Trailblazers lost several key players as seniors Christina Kidd, Amanda Lane and Amanda Borsotti all depart. Kidd and Lane both graduated with over a 1,000 career digs and Borsotti was a key starter.
Head coach Amanda Beckwith will look to two seniors with loads of experience to lead this year's squad. Kayla Bromback (Lee, MA) led the Trailblazers in kills and blocks as the six-foot Bromback was dominant at times last season. The team also brings back senior Hayley Gundersen (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls HS). Gundersen is a jack-of-all-trades for MCLA as she finished in the top three on the team in assists, aces and receiving percentage.
MCLA also brings back sophomore Kelley Bryant (West Springfield, MA). Bryant played well as a freshman and finished second on the team in digs behind Lane. Bryant will look to fill that role defensively that Lane had done the last couple of seasons. Kendra Hobbs (Haverhill, MA/Whittier Tech), Jillian Gregoriou (Hubbardston, MA/Quabbin) and Rachael Nichols (Sturbridge, MA/Tantasqua) are the other returning Trailblazers from the 2010 season.
The key for the 2011 season will be how much the newcomers contribute; if they are a factor then MCLA should be right back in the top half of the conference. Those key newcomers are a pair of freshman setter's in Brittany Kish (East Longmeadow, MA) and Reagan Parrelli (Warwick, NY). Those two will be looking to set for Julie Christian (Cohoes, NY) a middle hitter who transferred in from Hudson Valley Community College.
Allie Chang (Northport, NY) and Angelica Perfido (Whately, MA/Frontier) are also expected to contribute right away. Perfido is coming off a state championship with Frontier high school. Kelly Bodnar (Pittsfield, MA) and Sam Barbarotta (Pittsfield, MA/Taconic) are a couple of Berkshire County products that are looking to contribute as well.
The Trailblazers will open their season on September 1st in a tri-match at Southern Vermont that also includes Castleton State. The Trailblazers home opener is September 7th versus Castleton and the conference home opener is September 24th versus Bridgewater State. The Trailblazers will also play in the Continental Classic the weekend of October 21st. MCLA will play four matches in two days that will feature games with Keuka, Hamilton and Trinity.