Aug. 25, 2011

Temple Invitational Live Stats

Stony Brook, N.Y. - After falling just five points short of a spot in the America East title match last season, the Stony Brook University volleyball team heads into the 2011 season with high expectations.

But the Seawolves have set their sights much higher than just making the America East title match. The Seawolves have their sights set on the programs first ever America East Championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament that goes with it.

And why shouldn't they? The Seawolves and head coach Deborah Matejka-DesLauriers return eight letter-winners from that team including first team All-America East selection Alicia Nelson and 2010 America East Rookie of the Year, Evann Slaughter.

Add into the mix one of the best recruiting classes in school history and Matejka-DesLauriers believes she has a squad that can make a run at a championship.

The Seawolves kick off their quest for an America East title this weekend at the Temple Invitational. SBU opens up against the host Owls on Friday at 5:30 before taking on Montana and South Carolina on Saturday.

Montana is coming off a 13-15 season but was picked third in the Big Sky preseason coaches poll. South Carolina comes into this year after finishing 2010 with a record of 7-23.

Temple is in their first year under head coach Bakeer Ganes after finishing 4-25 season last year. The Owls return eight letter-winners including three starters.

Below is the Seawolves 2011 season preview.

Seniors
The senior class is led by outside hitter Alicia Nelson, who earned first team all-conference honors last season after missing all of 2009 due to injury. Nelson led the America East with 419 kills and averaged a conference-best 4.24 kills per set during conference play while ranking third in the America East with 4.20 points per set. A team captain, the coaching staff expects Nelson to once again anchor the Seawolves offense as she makes a run at conference player of the year.

Kelsey Sullivan returns for her final year at Stony Brook after ranking sixth in the America East with 7.46 assists per set in 2010. Sullivan guided the Seawolves to the second highest hitting percentage in the conference last season. Matejka-DesLauriers sees her as a coach on the court and expects her to close her career with a flourish.

Masa Balandzic enters her second year with the Seawolves. Balandzic played in 72 sets last season and did a little bit of everything as she had 68 digs, 65 assists and 19 service aces. Matejka-DesLauriers expects the versatile Balandzic to once again add depth to the SBU defense.

Jennifer Cunningham impressed in a reserve role last season, tallying 19 digs in 29 sets including four digs in the America East semifinals against Albany. Matejka-DesLauriers believes Cunningham will play an even more important role in the Seawolves defense this season.

The Juniors
Stony Brook's lone junior is outside hitter Greta Strenger. One of the Seawolves most consistent players on both offense and defense, Strenger recorded 163 digs and 144 kills a season ago. Matejka-DesLauriers and the coaching staff expects even more production from her this season.

The Sophomores
The sophomore class was thrown right into the fire last season in their first year at Stony Brook as Slaughter, Hailee Herc and Kaitlin Costello each played over 90 sets. And the trio didn't just play but were also major contributors as Slaughter was the runaway Rookie of the Year, Costello was named to the conference's All-Rookie team and Herc played in all 110 sets.

Matejka-DesLauriers says the experience they gained last year was invaluable and she expects each to be a major factor this season.

Slaughter was dominant as a freshman, leading the Seawolves in blocks (76), block solos (48) and block assists (28). The middle blocker finished sixth in the America East with 0.81 blocks per set and ranked third in the America East in hitting percentage (.326) and blocks per set (.87) during conference play. She also finished the season with 173 kills and Matejka-DesLauriers believes the sky is the limit for Slaughter.

Herc proved to be one of the team's most durable players as a freshman as she was one of just four players to play in every set. Also one of the Seawolves most versatile players, Herc ranked second on the team with 235 digs and ranked fourth in the America East with 38 aces.

Costello developed into a consistent performer for the Stony Brook last season, finishing the season with 101 kills and 59 digs. She ended the season on a high note, tying a season-high with eight kills in the America East semifinals against Albany.

The Freshmen
The Seawolves welcome six newcomers- Katie Anderson, Katrina Doherty, Hannah Dolan, Taylor Gillie, Laura Hathaway and Nicole Parkas - to the fold this season and Matejka-DesLauriers believes that all could be contributors this season.

A 5-2 libero, Hathaway comes Stony Brook from Warsaw, N.Y. where she played for the VolleyFX club team. Matejka-DesLauriers sees her as a spark plug and she will begin the season as the Seawolves starting libero.

A 6-0 middle blocker, Gillie was a two-time first team all-conference selection at Bishop Luers High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. Named the conference player of the year as a senior, Gille played for the club team Performance Plus. Matejka-DesLauriers believes Gillie has a huge upside and will eventually develop into a dynamic all-round player.

Dolan comes to Stony Brook from the Aquinas Institute of Rochester where she was a three-time all-league performer. The 5-10 setter sets a great tempo and has good court awareness according to Matejka-DesLauriers, who sees Dolan competing for time right away.

A 6-3 middle blocker, Anderson led A.J. Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska to three straight class 4A state championships. Anderson was a first-team all-state selection in volleyball and Matjka-DesLauriers thinks she has the potential to be a dominant middle blocker in the America East.

Doherty comes to Stony Brook from Northwood High in Irvine, Calif., where she earned second team All-Pacific Coast league honors. A 6-2 swing hitter, she had 181 kills as a senior. Matejka-DesLauriers likes her height for the swing position and also her west coast court experience.

Parkas led St. Anthony's High School to a 27-1 record as a senior. A 5-6 libero/defensive stopper, Matejka-DesLauriers says Parkas as a tough defender who will add depth to the Stony Brook defense.