Fall 1999

Stony Brook, NY - When you consider Stony Brook volleyball folklore, there was nothing extraordinary about the 1999 volleyball season. After all, it was just another winning season - the 15th in a row - and was the program's 15th consecutive season in which it has won 20 matches or more.

However, when you consider this was the Seawolves' first season at the Division I level, everything about it seems extraordinary.

The highlight of the season came on September 28 in a win over Long Island rival and NCAA tournament participant, Hofstra University. Surprising was the way in which Stony Brook won, in straight games, 15-12, 15-12, 15-8. It was easily the team's best match of the season. The team hit .317 and registered 10 more kills than the Dutchwomen. Freshman setter Regine Lilavois (Westbury, NY) registered 44 assists and delivered pin-point passes to senior hitters Almaris Miranda (Williamsville, NY) and Jessica Serrano (Ridge, NY). Miranda led the team with 19 kills and 12 digs and Serrano had 15 kills. The victory came on the heels of a four-match losing streak the previous weekend.

More than anything else, the 1999 season was one of streaks. From the beginning to the end, the Seawolves found themselves amidst one streak or another. The team opened the season with wins in eight of their first nine matches and captured the Hartford Invitational and the Holiday Inn Express tournament. Following were losses in five of six matches, including three straight at the Delaware Invitational. The Seawolves got back on track with wins in five of their next six to start the month of October, including victories over Wagner, Harvard and Columbia in the Seawolves Classic.

Losses to Seton Hall, St. John's, Brown and Yale encompassed the final losing streak of the year and put the Seawolves at 14-11. More importantly - with 8 matches to go - it meant the team would need to go 6-2 to win 20 matches for the 15th consecutive season. It would be a difficult challenge as seven of the eight matches would be played on the road.

Stony Brook began the stretch run with 3-0 wins at Pennsylvania and Sacred Heart. A 2-2 mark the next weekend at the Harvard Invitational left the Seawolves grasping for wins in its final two matches to meet its 20-win goal. The Seawolves got them - defeating Quinnipiac on the road for the 19th win. Victory #20 came fittingly at home on senior day against Albany in the final match of the season. The Seawolves handled Albany, 3-0, capping off a much-needed 6-2 run to finish the season at 20-13. A trip to Puerto Rico awaited, but the three matches played there would not count towards their collegiate record.

Seniors Almaris Miranda, Jessica Serrano and Sarah Boeckel (Williamsville, NY) leave behind one of the winningest legacies in the program. During the past four seasons, the Seawolves posted a 113-47 record and made a successful transition from Division III to Division I.

This season, Miranda had 623 kills, the most by a Seawolf since Serrano had 770 in 1997. Miranda joined the 30-kill club in back-to-back matches against Southwest Missouri State (34) and Manhattan (31). She finished in the top three in the nation in Division I with 5.57 kills per game. Serrano leaves the program as the leader in five career statistical categories. She led the team in digs this season with 345 and was second in kills with 435.

Boeckel fought through a nagging back injury in 1999 after surgery last season forced the program's all-time assist leader to red-shirt. Boeckel played in 27 matches and averaged a team-high 8.07 assists per game, the fourth season in which she has led the team in that category.

Based on the performance of several young players this season, the future looks bright for the Seawolves. Freshman Alisse Gossett (Cedar Park, TX) proved her durability by playing in a team-high 116 games while starting in 29 matches. She finished second on the team in attack percentage (.261) and blocks (98) and third in kills (332).

It was a junior and sophomore that led the Seawolves defensively. At the net, it was junior Cynthia Orengo (Woodside, NY). In the back row, it was sophomore Susanne Westing (Bellmore, NY). Orengo went on to lead the team in blocks with 126. She had a season-high six block assists against Yale and Fordham and five block solos and 10 total blocks against Syracuse. Westing finished with 215 digs and had 12-dig performances on three separate occasions - all season highs. She was selected to the all-tournament team at the Seawolves Classic on October 2.

Freshman Regine Lilavois was a pleasant surprise in mid-season, taking over for an injured Sarah Boeckel at the setter position. After playing sparingly in the team's first seven matches, Lilavois took over the starting role against Delaware on September 24 and stayed there for the remainder of the season. She posted 44 assists in the team's upset of Hofstra and had a career-high 54 assists against Siena on November 6.

The Seawolves' best player at the end of the 1999 season may have been Catrina Gordon (Brooklyn, NY). The sophomore outside hitter saved her best defensive play for last. At the Harvard Invitational, Gordon averaged over 10 digs per match, including a stellar 18-dig performance against Siena to help the Seawolves take a 3-2 win. Her presence next year - especially on defense - will be a big factor in determining how far the Seawolves will go.

Sophomore middle hitter Debra Falkenberg (Smithtown, NY) will also help the Seawolves defensively. Falkenberg finished third on the team in total blocks with 58 and enjoyed her best performance at Quinnipiac in the final road match of the year. Falkenberg's six total blocks and five block assists both marked career highs.

Sophomore outside hitter Jaime O'Connor (Island Park, NY) showed considerable improvement as the season went on and will be an important building block in 2000 with the graduation of Serrano and Miranda.

The Seawolves ended the 1999 season in spectacular fashion - spending four days and three nights in Puerto Rico. Besides the break and vacation-like atmosphere it provided the players - they also competed at the Universidad Metropolitana tournament. The Seawolves came away with two wins and a second place finish. In the opener, the Seawolves defeated the College of the East, 3-1, and followed with a 3-0 victory over the University of Turabo. In the championship match, Stony Brook fell to the host, Universidad Metropolitana, in a barn-burner match, 25-20, 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, 11-15.