Aug. 23, 2012

Stony Brook, N.Y. - The Stony Brook University volleyball team raises the curtain on its 2012 season this weekend at Army's Black Knight Invitational. The Seawolves open against Indiana on Friday at 1 p.m. before facing off against Quinnipiac (11 a.m.) and the host Black Knights (2 p.m.) on Saturday.

Scouting Indiana: This will be the first all-time meeting between Stony Brook and Indiana. The Hoosiers went 9-23 last season but are just two years removed from a trip to the Sweet 16. IU returns nine letterwinerrs led by senior Kelci Marschall, who totaled a team-high 344 kills last seasons.

Scouting Quinnipiac: The Bobcats went just 4-25 last season but return nine letterwinners under new head coach Kristopher Czaplinski. Quinnipiac was picked to finish ninth in the Northeast Conference preseason coaches poll and is led by senior Taylor Payne, who led the team in blocks and was third in kills last season. The Bobcats also return libero Logan Riker, who missed most of last season due to injury but led the team in digs in 2010.

Scouting Army: The Black Knights are coming off a 23-8 season and were picked second in the Patriot League preseason coaches poll. Army led the Patriot League in kills in 2011 and is paced by three-time all-league performer Ariana Mankus. Sophomore setter Mary Vaccaro also returns after earning Patriot League Setter of the Year honors as a freshman.

2012 Seawolves Season Preview

Coming off a trip to the America East finals, the Stony Brook volleyball team and head coach Deb DesLauriers head into the 2012 season with high aspirations. The Seawolves return eight letterwinners from last year's squad and also welcome one of the best recruiting classes in program history.

Fueled by a perfect blend of veteran leadership and young talent, the 2012 Seawolves are looking to accomplish what no other team in program history has ever done: win an America East championship.

Seniors
Despite returning eight letterwinners, outside hitter Greta Strenger (Woodbury, Minn.) is the team's only senior. Strenger will help to fill the void left by Alicia Nelson, the 2011 America East Player of the Year. The Seawolves captain, Strenger has increased her kill total in each of her three seasons at Stony Brook and DesLauriers expects that trend to continue.

Juniors
The Seawolves have an experienced junior class that has played in a combined 566 sets over their first two seasons at Stony Brook.

Evann Slaughter (Clinton, Md.) will once again anchor the middle blocker position for the Seawolves after earning All-America East second team honors last season. Slaughter ranked fourth in the America East in blocks per set last season and led the team in block solos and block assists in 2011.

Hailee Herc (Eden, N.Y.) returns after leading the conference with 0.42 aces per set in 2011. Herc is also an asset on defense, having totaled 400 digs over her first two seasons. Kaitlin Costello (Webster, N.Y.) has had a terrific preseason camp according to the coaches and will be looked to as major contributor on the Seawolves attack after earning All-Rookie honors as a freshman and tallying 84 kills last season.

Sophomores
Laura Hathaway (Warsaw, N.Y.) will once against anchor the Stony Brook defense after an outstanding freshman campaign in which the libero was named to the America East All-Rookie team. Hathway led the team and ranked fourth in the America East with 4.26 digs per set.

Taylor Gillie (Fort Wayne, N.Y.) returns at middle blocker after making 27 starts last season. Gillie ranked fourth on the team with 104 kills as a freshman and also ranked second on the squad with 60 blocks. Katie Anderson (Anchorage, Alaska) saw increased playing time at middle blocker as last season progressed and the coaching staff expects increased production from her this year.

Setter Hannah Dolan (Rochester, N.Y.) saw limited action last season as a backup to the now graduated Kelsey Sullivan. DesLauriers expects her to vie for major playing time in 2012. Nicole Parkas (Dix Hills, N.Y.) is expected to compete for time in a reserve role as a defensive specialist.

Freshmen
Swing hitters Melissa Rigo (East Northport, N.Y./Elwood-John Glenn HS) and Shelby Tietjen (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West HS) along with middle blocker Stephanie McFadden (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./San Clemente HS) and setter Nicole Vogel (Costa Mesa, Calif./Edison HS) comprise the Seawolves' talented freshman class.

Named the 2011 Gatorade New York Player of the Year, Rigo led Elwood-John Glenn to a 23-2 record and was named MVP of the state tournament as she led Eldwood-John Glenn to the Class B state title this past season.

An All-Long Island player, Tietjen played with Rigo on the Academy 18-Elite club team. Vogel and McFadden led their club team, SVVC, to the Southern Cal National Division Qualifier for Nationals.

Vogel was a second team all-conference pick at Edison High School as a senior, while McFadden was a 2011 first team All-South Coast league selection.