SPRINGFIELD, Mass – The American International College women’s volleyball team returns seven members of last year’s squad and is looking make the Northeast-10 conference tournament for the first time since 2003. First-year head coach
Kelly Wengerter has brought a new energy and focus to the program and hope to return the Yellow Jackets to the top of the conference standings.
2007 RECAP: The Yellow Jackets showed some improvement from years past posting a 6-12 record overall and 4-10 record in the NE-10. AIC posted records of 5-13 (5-9 NE-10) and 4-14 (2-12 NE-10) in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
KEY LOSSES: The Yellow Jackets lost four seniors to graduation in Charisse Trotman (Bristol, Conn.), Ozge Ozkan (Istanbul, Turkey), Alicia Cotton (Dearborn Hieghts, Mich.) and Krystle Neves (North Quincy, Mass.). Trotman played in 17 of the teams 18 matches and was second on the team in kills with 119, in assists with 40, and in service aces with 26. She was third on the team in digs with 171. Ozkan played in each of the team’s 18 matches and totaled 637 assists and 32 service aces.
OUTSIDE HITTER: The Yellow Jackets return three outside hitters from last season in sophomores
Kambryn Williams (Pomona, Calif.),
Keziah Kashouh (West Warwick, R.I.), and
Jonelle Gurley (Port of Spain, Trinidad). As a freshman, Williams played in all 18 of the teams matches and was the team’s top scorer with 164 kills, while also recording 206 digs. She will also see some time as the setter. Kashouh played in 15 of the teams 18 matches and was third on the team in kills, with 94, and in blocks, with 17. Joining the squad this year are freshmen Bree Allan (Springfield, Mass.),
Taila De Souza (Cunupia, Trinidad), who will also see time at setter, Kaitlen Laine (San Diego, Calif.),
Nikole Lynch (Brockton, Mass.) and
Ellisha Terry (Fort Worth, Texas), who will also see time at libero. Gurley and Lynch will also see time as the right-side hitter.
MIDDLE BLOCKER: Returning this season to the Yellow Jackets are senior
Candice Joseph (Avon, Conn.) and sophomore
Alicia Smith (Bridgetown, Barbados). Joseph was fourth on the team in kills with 74 and second in blocks with 21, while Smith was fifth on the team in kills with 64 and led the team with 37 total blocks. Also competing for time this season at the middle blocker position is freshman
Vanessa Blanc (Rahway, N.J.).
LIBERO: The Yellow Jackets return three players at the libero position in senior senior
Jocelyn Lavandier (New Haven, Conn) and juniors
Jenn Hormann (Forest Grove, Ore.) and
Christy Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.). Hormann played in all 18 of the team’s matches and led the team with 213 digs on the season. New to the squad is freshman
Renee Boudreaux (Cranston, R.I.).
SETTER: The Yellow Jackets do not return any true setters to the position, though several players could see time at the position. Freshman
Kervelle Redhead (St. James, Trinidad) will also compete for the roll.
2008 SCHEDULE: The Yellow Jackets will face two teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament last season in Bentley (Sept. 9) and Merrimack (Oct. 4). AIC opens the season with a tri-match at Post with Bridgeport (Aug. 29) and travel to a tournament hosted by Lock Haven (Sept. 5-6). The Yellow Jackets will open the home and conference portions of their schedule Sept. 9 Bentley