Women's Volleyball Heads Back To Keystone State

Wildcats Return To Pennsylvania For Second Consecutive Week To Take Part In California Vulcan Invitational

By: Lea Sobieraski, Athletics Communications Graduate Assistant

Women's Volleyball | 9/7/2017 9:15:00 AM

GAME INFORMATION
Daemen Wildcats (1-2, 0-0 ECC) vs. Davis & Elkins Senators (1-3, 0-0 GMAC)
Friday, September 8 | 12:00 p.m.
California, Pa. | Hamer Hall

Daemen Wildcats (1-2, 0-0 ECC) vs. Lake Erie Storm (2-2, 0-0 GMAC)
Friday, September 8 | 3:00 p.m.
California, Pa. | Hamer Hall

Daemen Wildcats (1-2, 0-0 ECC) vs. Fairmont State Fighting Falcons (2-2, 0-0 MEC)
Saturday, September 9 | 4:00 p.m.
California, Pa. | Convocation Center

Daemen Wildcats (1-2, 0-0 ECC) vs. California (Pa.) Vulcans (2-2, 0-0 PSAC)
Saturday, September 9 | 4:00 p.m.
California, Pa. | Convocation Center

GAME LINKS
Live Stats (Daemen vs. Fairmont)
Live Stats (Daemen vs. California)

ALBANO BACK IN ACTION
Stephanie Albano enters her second season as the Head Women's Volleyball Coach at Daemen in 2017. She was promoted to the position after serving as the Associate Head Coach in 2015. In her first season at the helm, Albano led the program to a 25-8 overall record and 13-1 mark in ECC play. She guided the Wildcats to the program's first ECC regular season championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Albano was named the 2016 East Coast Conference Coach of the year and the 2016 NCAA Division II East Region Coach of the Year last season. She was also selected as one of the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) 30 Under 30 award recipients in the spring of 2017.

WILDCATS PICKED 2ND IN ECC PRESEASON POLL
Following a vote of the league's head coaches, Daemen has been picked to finish 2nd in the East Coast Conference this season after capturing the league's regular season championship in 2016.

HOW SWEET IT WAS
After finishing as the ECC tournament runner-ups, the Wildcats earned the program's first ever-NCAA Tournament berth as the No. 2 seed in the East Regional portion of the tournament which was hosted at Daemen's Lumsden gymnasium. Daemen captured their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, defeating Post University in a five-set thriller. The next day the Wildcats advanced to the sweet 16 after defeating third-seeded University of New Haven with a 3-0 victory. But, their historic 2016 camp to an end in the regional finals, falling 3-2 to fourth-seeded American International College.

RETURNING WILDCATS
The Wildcats return eight players from last year's historic 25-8 squad. Redshirt junior Courtney Scanlan returns as a force on the oustide after registering 226 kills in her debut season as a Wildcat. Scanlan registered nine double-digit kill performances last year. Daemen also welcomes back Meghan Ballou and Cristina Apostol, the pair finished first and second on the team in total blocks respectively. Meghan Ballou, a sophomore outside hitter, finished her freshman campaign with 178 kills and 48 blocks. Apostol, a sophomore middle blocker, concluded her rookie season with 185 kills and 43 blocks. Offensive threat Courtney Bernard is back on the season in 2017, the junior middle blocker recorded 153 kills and 41 blocks in just 19 matches. Senior leader Katie McKrell and sophomore Sydney MacInnis return as the top floor generals at the setting position for the Wildcats. Lastly, Daemen's defensive efforts will be led by junior Kailey Ballou and sophomore Jess Kranz, in 2016 the duo registered 318 and 209 dig respectively.

FRESH FACES
Daemen welcomes six true freshmen to the 2017 squad, including players from five different states. Ali Greenwood, a defensive specialist, comes to Daemen from the Greater Chicago area where she was a two-year starter for the west Aurora Blackhawks, helping them to an Upstate 8 Conference championship in 2015. Fellow defensive specialist Georgia Wicker hails from northern Illinois where she earned four varsity letters for the Woodstock Blue Streaks. She ended her scholastic career with a school record 1,857 digs. Outside hitter Abby Francis comes from Royal Oak, Michigan and brings an ability to play both the front and back rows. Jennifer Heritz, a 6-foot middle-blocker comes to Daemen from The Hoosier State, where she starred for the Penn Kingsmen and helped her team win two sectional championships. Allison Post, another 6-footer, traveled from Windsor, California to join the Wildcat squad. The outside hitter was a two-time All-North Bay league first-team selection in her four year career. Rounding out the rookie class is local athlete Tirzah Peters who comes to Daemen after an impressive athletic career just a short drive away at Sweet Home High School. The 6-foot middle blocker earned six varsity letters on the volleyball court for the Panthers.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats opened their 2017 campaign last weekend at the Quality Inn Crimson Hawk Invitational hosted by Indiana (Pa.), finishing the weekend 1-2. Daemen opened tournament play with a 3-1 win over Ursuline (25-16, 30-32, 27-25, 25-21) and later closed out the day with a tough 3-1 loss to Clarion (25-21, 20-25, 23-25, 12-25). The Wildcats wrapped up tournament play with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of tournament host IUP, as the Crimson Hawks swept the Wildcats 25-14, 25-11, and 25-11. Redshirt junior Courtney Scanlan and sophomore Meghan Ballou have paced the Wildcats offense thus far, averaging 3.27 and 2.82 kills per set, respectively. Scanlan drilled down a career-high 19 kills in the win over Ursuline and added a double-double (12 kills, 25 digs) against Clarion. Ballou, on top of her offensive efforts, registered double-digit digs in all three matches (14, 12, 10). Veteran Katie McKrell has seen the bulk of the action at the setting position thus far, posting 76 assists in the three matches last weekend. Newcomers Ali Greenwood and Jenn Heritz each had strong performances in their Daemen debuts, Greenwood registered 36 total digs while Heritz notched 22 total kills.

DAVIS & ELKINS SCOUTING REPORT
Daemen opens this week with Davis & Elkins out of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Senators posted a 15-19 overall record in 2016 and were selected to finish third in the East Division of their conference in 2017. Davis & Elkins is coming off of a division championship in the 2016 regular season and a runner-up finish in the GMAC Tournament. The Senators opened this season with one win in four matches at the Rebich Investments Invitational hosted by Edinboro last weekend. Offensively the Senators have been led by senior Sasha Johnson and sophomore Lillie Mueller. In four matches, Johnson leads the team in kills (27) and blocks (12), while Mueller ranks second on the team in both kills (26) and digs (34). Alongside Mueller, D & E's defense is paced by sophomore libero Kelly Smith, who currently holds a 3.91 dig per set ratio with 43 digs. Veteran Zoe Craig remains steady at the setting position, already dishing out 98 helpers thus far.

LAKE ERIE SCOUTING REPORT
Daemen's second match of the tournament comes against Lake Erie, a new member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Wildcats will be looking to avenge a 3-1 loss they suffered to the Storm last season. Lake Erie is coming off of a 19-16 campaign in 2016 which included a run to the GLIAC Tournament semifinals in their final year as an affiliate of that league. Lake Erie was recently voted as the 2017 preseason favorite in the East division of the GMAC. The white and green return nine players from last year's squad, including the team leader in the categories of kills, digs and assists. Last weekend, Lake Erie opened this season at the Quality Inn Ashland Tournament, splitting the four matches. The Storm's offense is paced by senior Bethany Fisher and sophomore Brooke Peiffer. Fisher leads the team in kills with 59, and currently holds a 3.93 kills per set ration. Peiffer ranks second on the squad in kills (42), kills per set (2.80), digs (41), and is tied for first in service aces (3). Alongside Peiffer, veteran libero Sidney Fletcher leads Lake Erie's defensive efforts, recording 81 digs in four matches. Junior Alexis Thomas has seen most of the action at the setting position, dishing out 91 helpers thus far.

FAIRMONT STATE SCOUTING REPORT
Daemen's second day at the Cal Vulcan Invitational opens with a duel vs. Fairmont State out of the Mountain East Conference. This match will mark the first of four-straight for the Wildcats against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season. The Falcons were selected to finish second in the Mountain East Conference preseason poll after finishing 2016 with a 21-14 mark, which included an NCAA Tournament at-large berth. Ten players from last year's team return to the scene in 2017, including All-American right-side hitter Mackenzie Harrison, All-MEC setter Jessica Furda, All-MEC libero Megan Clerico and MEC All-Freshman Team middle hitter Rebecca Feeney. The Falcons split four matches at the Rebich Investments Invitational last weekend to start the season. Harrison was recently named the MEC Player of the Week after averaging 6.1 kills per set in the opening weekend of action. Senior standout Jessica Furda, continues her dominant career as the key setter, already dishing out 158 assists in just four matches.

CALIFORNIA (PA.) SCOUTING REPORT
The Wildcats conclude weekend action against the tournament host, the Cal Vulcans; Daemen swept the Vulcans in three sets last season. Cal was recently picked second in the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Southwest Division preseason poll. The Vulcans boasted a 22-10 record in 2016 which included a trip back to the NCAA Tournament after missing the post-season the year before. Head Coach Peter Letourneau enters his seventh season and returns 11 players with the addition of eight freshmen to this year's squad. The red and black opened their 2017 campaign at the Queens (N.C.) Invitational last weekend, dropping three matches and securing one win. Rachel Priore led the way averaging 3.71 kills and 4.18 points per set. The sophomore outside hitter tallied a career-high 20 kills in the Vulcans sole victory last weekend, and ranks first on the team in total kills with 48. Cal's offense is steered by senior setter Taylor Solo who has dished out 130 assists thus far. Defensively, libero junior Marisa Fanelli, has recorded 52 digs and added sour service aces.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats continue their Pennsylvania stampede when they travel to Erie on Tuesday, September 12 to face Gannon. The match pits the Wildcats against the reigning PSAC Tournament champions at 7:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Cristina Apostol: MB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#1 Kailey Ballou: L; 5' 7"; Junior

#2 Meghan Ballou: OH; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#9 Courtney Bernard: MB/RS; 6' 0"; Junior

#4 Jess Kranz: DS; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#8 Sydney MacInnis: S; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#11 Katie McKrell: S; 5' 8"; Senior

#7 Courtney Scanlan: OH; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Ali Greenwood: DS; 5' 6"; Freshman

#5 Jenn Heritz: MH; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#15 Cristina Apostol
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: MB

#1 Kailey Ballou
: 5' 7"; Junior
: L

#2 Meghan Ballou
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH

#9 Courtney Bernard
: 6' 0"; Junior
: MB/RS

#4 Jess Kranz
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: DS

#8 Sydney MacInnis
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: S

#11 Katie McKrell
: 5' 8"; Senior
: S

#7 Courtney Scanlan
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: OH

#3 Ali Greenwood
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: DS

#5 Jenn Heritz
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MH