AUGUST 28, 2014

KING'S VOLLEYBALL TO BEGIN SEASON ON FRIDAY AT PSU-ABINGTON

WILKES-BARRE --- The King's College volleyball team will kick off the 2014 season on Friday night on the road with a match at Penn State Abington beginning a 6:00 p.m.

The Lady Monarchs look to continue the resurgence of the program under head coach Bernie Kachinko who is in year-two of his second stint as the head coach of the Lady Monarchs. The team will return eight players from a team that finished above .500 for the first time since the 2009 season with a 14-12 record last year.

 

Team co-captains senior setter Mary Loughran and junior outside hitter Aubrey Gryskiewicz will look to guide the team into qualifying for the Freedom Conference Tournament for the first time since 2008.  Loughran, one of the top setters in the Freedom Conference posted 566 assists, 68 kills, 40 service aces, 193 digs and 16 blocks last season.  Gryskiewicz, a versatile player, contributed 21 kills, 11 assists, 144 digs and 18 service aces last season.

 

The Lady Monarchs will also look to sophomore outside hitter Jessica Carr, who led the King's attack last season posting a team high 186 kills while also having 77 digs and 16 blocks. Senior middle hitter Kelsie Kramer will be looked upon for her play at the net as she was third on the team with 101 kills last season along with a team leading 18 blocks. Junior outside hitter Elen O'Donnell brings back a team leading 216 digs along with 101 kills and 10 assists.

 

The Lady Monarchs look forward to having senior outside hitter Emily Heimbecker back this year after she was only able to play in 13 matches last season due to injury. In those 13 matches she was able to post 93 kills and 98 digs. Her 2.58 kills per set was tops on the team last season. Senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Alyssa Powell will be looked upon for her defense after recording 148 digs last season. She was also third on the team with 26 aces as a junior.

Sophomore right side hitter/setter Sarah Busse will look to see more time as a hitter and stands out as one of the best servers on the teams after posting a team leading 47 aces last season to go along with 55 kills and 206 digs.

The Lady Monarchs will also look towards freshmen middle hitters Kateyln Shifflet and Alexis Swagler to contribute greatly to the team's attack. Freshman libero Brenna Smudde will add depth to the back row. Freshmen libero/setter Emma Hanrahan and right side hitter Mackenzie Martin will compete for time this season.

After Friday's match the Lady Monarchs will have four more away matches before playing their first home match on Thursday September 11^th vs. Baptist Bible College at 6:00 p.m. Freedom Conference play will begin on Wednesday September 17^th with a 7:00 p.m. home match vs. DeSales University.

The Lady Monarchs will face the top team in the Freedom Conference and one of the best teams in the nation on September 23^rd when they travel to face Eastern University who is ranked 15^th in the AVCA Coaches Poll to begin the season. The schedule will also include participating in the Ithaca College Invitational Tournament and the Cobelskill Invitational Tournament.