Felician Athletics - 8/25/08 VOLLEYBALL - 2008 Outlook: Higher Expectations Surround Defensive-Minded Volleyball Squad

Earning the Felician College volleyball program’s first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament berth in 2007 has led the team to be surrounded by unprecedented expectations. There is a sense of excitement among athletics department staffers, and CACC coaches predicted the Golden Falcons to finish third in the league’s North Division.

All of the buzz is just fine with second-year head coach Alan Clements.

“The success we had at the end of last season has given the girls the belief that they can win here,” Clements said. “It gave them the feeling of success and the desire to achieve it again. My goals are to qualify for the CACC Tournament again and to improve on last year’s record as we improve our skill level. But the players feel they can do much better.”

The four seniors that graduated from last year’s squad took with them nearly 70 percent of the team’s kills and more than half of its blocks. What is left behind is a scrappy team that will look to extend points and force its opponents into mistakes.

“We took care of our defensive needs with my first recruiting class,” Clements said, “and I feel we are ahead of where we were last year at this time in terms of skill level. But we will be smaller than most of the teams we play. Hopefully our defense will frustrate people.”

SETTER: The Golden Falcons will be without the services of 2007 all-CACC selection Nicole Degenhardt (Secaucus, NJ) (98 sets played, 8.09 aps in 2007) due to a shoulder injury suffered during softball season. Redshirt freshman Megan DeLamater (Paramus, NJ) has emerged from preseason workouts as the starter.

“Nicole was a huge loss for us,” Clements said. “Megan was recruited to play opposite, and while her versatility is noteworthy, having her set will hurt our hitting.”

Transfer Kim Alo (Philippines) is the backup, but she is also a top candidate at defensive specialist.

OUTSIDE/OPPOSITE: 5-foot-4 freshman Cristina Garcia (Miami, FL) was recruited as a libero, but has surprised the coaching staff with her hitting ability and will likely play all-around. Sophomores Erica Moore (Ridgefield Park, NJ) (98 SP, 5.56 dps), and Amber Doran (Little Ferry, NJ (98 SP, 4.14 dps) both look to be a larger part of the offense as they alternate between opposite and outside. Moore set school records for digs in a match and season as Felician’s libero last year.

Clements will also attempt to squeeze some offense out of sophomore Leanne Sleboda (North Arlington, NJ) (92 SP, 1.70 dps) and freshman Ashlee DiSalvo (Batavia, NY), who have been primarily back row players.

MIDDLE: Fourth-year starter and co-captain Laura Peskosky (Clifton, NJ) (97 SP, 1.70 kps, 0.67 bps) and freshman C.C. Cousins (Paterson, NJ), who played for Clements in high school, are the only true middle hitters/blockers on the Golden Falcons.

“Our middles will be key for us,” Clements said. “Laura and C.C. must get some touches to take the pressure off our defense. As talented as our defense is, they need some help from our middles to be successful.”

BACK ROW/LIBERO: This unit has by far the most talent and depth. The additions of Alo, Garcia and DiSalvo allow Doran and Moore to focus on hitting. Graduate student and co-captain Suzanne Albert (Montreal, Quebec) (54 SP, 2.74 dps in 2006) is back after a medical redshirt season, and Sleboda is a returning starter. Sophomore Samantha Ament (Little Falls, NJ) (74 SP, 2.09 dps), a proven server, seeks a larger role.

DiSalvo is the top candidate to replace Moore at libero.