2004 LYCOMING COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College volleyball team enters the 2004 season feel-ing as if they have some unfinished business to attend to. The Warriors went 24-11 in 2003, including a perfect 6-0 during the regular season versus Freedom Conference opponents, but ultimately fell in the conference championship game for the second consecutive season. With an experienced core of veterans returning and a number of talented freshmen joining the squad, Lycoming is eager to take the next step and win their first conference title since 1998.

“Last year we had a terrific run, but we didn’t quite finish the job,” said fourth-year head coach Tim McMahon. “Hopefully, we learned from that experience and it increased out desire to work hard and improve.”

Leading the way for the Warriors will be seniors Seneca Reilly (Athens, Pa.; Athens) and Kelli Watson (East Freedom, Pa.; Central). Reilly returns for her fourth season as Lycoming’s starting setter. Last season she was a first-team all-conference selection after turning in a record-breaking season. Reilly set new school records for career assists with 3,120, single-season assists with 1,328, and single-season assists-per-game averaging 10.89 sets-per-contest. Watson was a second-team all-conference honoree in 2003 after ranking second on the team in kills with 326 or 3.08 per game. She also compiled 222 digs, 51 blocks, and 22 service aces despite missing five matches with an ankle injury.

“Having Seneca and Kelli on the court instantly makes us a contender,” said McMahon. “Not just because of their own skills and talents but also because of their ability to make those around them better. Both have started since they were freshmen and their combined experience is a valuable asset for the team.”

Also returning from last year’s starting lineup are sophomore Lindsey Artz (Hegins, Pa.; Tri-Valley) and senior Jana Reitz (Waynesboro, Pa.; Waynesboro). Artz had a stellar rookie campaign leading the Warriors with 127 blocks while also contributing 2.5 kills per game to rank third on the team with a total of 313 kills. Her .267 kill-percentage was also tops on the team among players with more than 20 attacks. Reitz has been one of Lycoming’s top two-way players the past two seasons, contributing both on offense and defense. In 2003, she led the team in digs with 437, while also chipping in 134 kills, 46 service aces, and 32 blocks.

Junior Casey Renninger (Pottsville, Pa.; Blue Mountain) saw significant action as a defensive specialist accumulating 201 digs in 107 games. She is the leading candidate to be the number one defensive specialist in 2004 with last year’s starter spending a semester abroad.

“With five players returning who saw significant time last season, we have the nucleus of a championship team,” said McMahon. “It will be their responsibility to help the younger players understand what it takes to compete at the collegiate level.”     

A pair of upperclassmen return to compete for two starting positions left vacant by the graduation of Layne Haverstock and Melanie McCoy, including junior Jill Bolesta (Sugar Notch, Pa.; Hanover), and sophomore and Jaclyn Purcell (Kulpmont, Pa.; Our Lady Lourdes). Bolesta played in four matches collecting eight kills and Purcell played in three matches recording one kill.       

Also returning from last year’s team is sophomore Laura Holdredge (Tunkhannok, Pa.; Tunkhannok). Holdredge will compete for playing time as the defensive specialist.

New to the team in 2004 will be three freshmen: Danielle Busch (Claymont, Del.; Wilmington Charter), Briana Ellis (Lansdown, Pa.; Upper Darby), and Kelly Hughes (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; James M. Coughlin).         

“We have a couple of holes in our lineup this year,” said McMahon. “But I’m confident that through preseason camp and the early part of our season players will emerge to fill those holes. Some of our upperclassmen have just been waiting for their chance. I’m looking forward to the season and seeing just how this team comes together.”   

The Warriors open their season at home on Wednesday, September 1, when they host Baptist Bible College in Lamade Gymnasium at 4 p.m.