United East Volleyball 2021 Preview
LATHAM, N.Y. - After a season without play, the United East volleyball teams are set to compete in a full 2021 schedule. There are a few new factors, including the new "United East" conference moniker as well as the addition of St. Mary's College of Maryland to the league.
Each of the nine volleyball programs will compete in eight conference games with the United East Championship Semifinals coming on Friday, November 5th and the Finals the following day.
Check out how each of the squads stack up here:
Wells College
Head Coach: Mark Lucas (6th season, 2017 NEAC Coach of the Year)
2019 Record: 13-19
2019 Postseason: None, but the team finished tied for the last playoff spot in the 2019 regular season only to lose the mathematical tiebreaker after a strong season finish that saw the Express take six of its last seven matches.
Key Returner/Player to Watch: Roosa Armstead-Lehti (Fy-L); Lexi Carfi (Fy-S); Caroline Barr (Fy-OH/MH).
Key Losses: Jackie Allen (3X All-Conference, Wells' all-time kills leader), Jazzmyne Williams (2X All-Conference), Maritza Scharoun, Gabby Rivera
Coach's Season Outlook: "With only one returning starter from 2019 and no seniors on the roster, we're looking to get our nine first-year players up to speed and contributing consistently by the time conference play rolls around."
Gallaudet University
Head Coach: Lynn Ray Boren (16th season)
2019 Record: 11-24
2019 Postseason: NEAC Tournament – Lost in the quarterfinals to Penn St.-Abington
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Karita Lewis (Sr., OH) - 421 kills, 367 digs, 58 service aces, 35 blocks; Mia Upchurch (Sr. DS/L) - 412 digs, 23 service aces; Emma Giuntoli (Jr., Setter) - 2018 season: 1,049 assists, 57 service aces, 26 blocks; Elina Rubinshteyn (Sr., OPP) - 182 kills, .186 attack pct., 12 blocks
Key Losses: Cassidy Perry, Adele Daniels, Brynn Schmidt, Demi Bingham
Coach's Season Outlook: "Due to COVID we missed out on playing last year, so we have a large group of players on this year's roster, including a few fifth year players and other newcomers who held off enrolling last year. As a team, we met consistently throughout the pandemic via Zoom to nurture our team chemistry and share our volleyball spirit. Thanks to those meetings and team building we have a very energetic group! I am looking forward to seeing how the team will respond to the new norm and further push towards the high standards that have been established for the Gallaudet women's volleyball program over time. This team will be a fun team to watch this fall on the court."
Lancaster Bible College
Head Coach: Julie Brubaker (2nd Season)
2019 Record: 16-16 Overall, 7-4 Conference
2019 Postseason: Quarterfinals
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Cassidy King (Sr. OH) - 31 MP, 198 K, 21 SA, 234 D; Suzanna Whiting (GS, L) - 116 SP, 425 D; Faith Helman - 3rd Team All-Conference
Key Losses: Aleah Heyworth, Allison Shuey
Coach's Season Outlook: "I think LBC Women's volleyball has a lot of youth but we hope to develop our experience as the season progresses. We are excited to learn and grow together as a team."
Penn College
Head Coach: Dr. Carolyn McKeon (1st Season)
2019 Record: Team (1-23)
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Hannah Burnett (Jr, L) - 51 A, 24 SA, 308 digs; Coryn Oswald (So, OH) - 126 K, 137 digs
Key Losses: Kylee Butz
Coach's Season Outlook: "Although we have an inexperienced team. I am looking for the development of strong team dynamics and individual commitment to the process of developing an elite athlete mindset. I am beyond excited! My outlook is one of pure enthusiasm and determination to support these women in anyway I can on and off the court."
Penn State Abington
Head Coach: Roy Watson (3rd Season)
2019 Record: 18-16
2019 Postseason: NEAC/United East Runner Up.
Key Returners / Players to watch: Gaby Shreve (So.) Libero. Finished 10th in the 2019 conference in digs per set; Jenny McAneney (Sr.) OH, team captain, 2-nd Team All-Conference (2019), 4th in conference in Kills-per-Set with 3.38, 5th in the Conference in total points; The entire Sophomore class of Penn State Abington volleyball athletes!
Coach's Season Outlook: "We return two very strong veteran athletes in Gaby and Jenny both of whom were instrumental in our historic run to the Finals in 2019. These two veterans are working very hard with our crew of exceptional freshmen and sophomore athletes. We are a very young team, but we've made the pledge to each another to never be outworked. I see grit, determination, and passion at every practice, working hard for ever rep. I'm excited for the season and I'm excited for our potential!"
Penn State Berks
Head Coach: Jessie Franko (7th Season)
2019 Record: 16-15
2019 Postseason: 1-1, lost to Morrisville State in semifinal
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Julia Rathsam (Jr, S) - 58 kills, .145%, 967 assists, 50 aces, 407 digs, 28 BA, 2019 All-NEAC First Team; Kayla Zelonka, (Jr., MB); Cassie Shoupe (Jr., OH); Marie Durkota (Sr., L) - 8 kills, .167%, 48 assist, 20 aces, 230 digs; Natalia Perez (So., DS)
Key Losses: Zoe Barna, Natalie Dwyer, Blair Eckel, Syd Himmelberger
Coach's Season Outlook: "After a two-year hiatus and only four returners, we're trying to get back into the conference playoffs. We're looking to our two junior transfers and some very talented recruits, to gel with the returns for a successful season."
Penn State Harrisburg
Head Coach: Angela Burkett (6th season)
2019 Record: 15-14
2019 Postseason: NEAC Tournament Semifinal Round
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Melanie Sheaffer (Sr., OH) - 240 K, 41 BLK; Megan Morris (Jr. DS/L) - 356 DIG, 40 SA, 41 A; Alyssa Snyder (Jr., S) - 428 A, 166 DIG, 29 SA; Anna Ruff (Jr. MB) - 151 K, 89 BLK, 90 DIG; Corrinne Cook (Sr., DS/L) - 361 DIG, 20 SA; Cheyanna Buckingham (Sr., MB/RS) - 157 K, 66 BLK
Key Losses: Brittany Ebaugh, Alexis Imler, Katie Kreider
Season Outlook: "After putting together one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2019, Penn State Harrisburg will look to keep the momentum rolling this fall. Nine Lions with playing experience return this season and the Blue & White will look to build chemistry among the team's seven players who have yet to play collegiately. With a strong mix of veterans and newcomers, the Lions will try to make a run to the postseason for the third consecutive season."
St. Mary's College of Maryland
Head Coach: Kelly Gordon (6th Season)
2019 Record: 5-23
2019 Postseason: CAC Tournament Quarterfinal
Key Returners / Players to Watch: Kyra Feinaeur (Jr., OH/RS) - 26 MP/9 MS, 157.5 PTS, 143 K, 25 BLKS; Chanel Lucas (Sr., OH) - 26 MP/15 MS, 170.5 Pts, 142 K, 24 Blks, 16 SA; Erin Krauss (Sr., MB) - 25 MP/14 MS, 157 Pts, 116 K, 64 Blks; Fatima Bouzid (Sr., S/RS) - 22 MP/8 MS, 294 A, 105 Digs, 15 SA
Key Losses: Ellyse Sutliff '21, S/RS; Katie Agate '21, S/R; Emily Benedict '20, DS; Nicole Kreutzinger '21, DS
Coach's Season Outlook: "We are really excited for the new opportunities the United East brings. Our first-years and returners came into preseason ready to work hard and it has been amazing to watch them gel together so quickly. This is a very special group and we cannot wait to compete this season!
SUNY Morrisville
Head Coach: Fred Wallace (23rd season overall, 9th at Morrisville)
2019 Record: 23-8
2019 Postseason: NEAC Champions
Key Returners/Players to Watch: Kirsten Florio, Sr., MH – All-Conference (264 K, .236, 11, 26, 66.0, 69 digs); Anna Salamino, Sr., DS (217 digs, 9 assists, 34 SAs); Briana Gates, So., RS/OH (210, .211, 6, 8, 42.0, 47 digs); Siobhan Moore, So., S (717 assists (10.10 per set), 33 SA's, 114 digs); Hannah Taylor, So., S (68 digs, 539 assists, 22 SAs)
Key Losses: from 2019: Sam Wolf (Sr., L), Meg Merrill (Sr., OH), Amelia Baratier (Sr., OH)
Coach's Season Outlook: "With the strength of our schedule in the very beginning of the season we should have a very good idea of where our strengths lie and where we need to improve to keep moving forward. The key to our success will be how quickly we can get our new players up to speed with our returning players, and how they gel as a team/family. We will look to continue to play fast offensively and win the scramble points behind our excellent defense."
