WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 28, 2018) – The King's College women's volleyball team over the last three seasons has been as consistent and steady as you can get, collecting at last 20 wins in each campaign while sandwiching 4-3 seasons around a 3-4 mark in 2016 in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom. Head coach Bernie Kachinko knew what he was going to get with the group that stepped out on the floor those seasons, and it showed in the record.

Fast forward a season and much has changed from 2017, but with that, the expectations and goals of this year's team has remained the same. 20 wins. MAC Freedom Tournament appearance. Just to name a few.

The one thing though that has changed will be that many of the players that were around for those 20-win seasons are gone, and in their place is a group of 13 hungry newcomers. That's not to say that there's nothing left in the cupboard, as senior captain and MAC Freedom First Team honoree Rachel Miller returns to lead the squad in 2018.

The Monarchs got 355 kills out of their 5-11 outside hitter in 2017, as the Enola, Pennsylvania native hit .275 with a team-best 43 service aces. That wasn't the extent of her play, as Miller was second on the team in digs with 286 while also adding 23 blocks. Her dominance on the court is certainly evident, but it will be her leadership abilities this season that take center stage.

"I'm a lead-by-example type of player," said Miller. "I go out there and give 110 percent, and that's all we can ask the freshmen to do, to just keep working hard and never really give up. Effort is really what matters in this game, as well as keeping a cool head to push through tough games and plays."

With such a large freshmen class, the biggest in program history, it gives chances early to newcomers while also providing opportunities for some returners to step up and contribute in other ways. That is what Kachinko is hoping for, as the 27^th year head coach looks to pass a milestone of his own this year. Kachino, who started at King's College in 1989, is only six victories shy of 500 for his career as he's chalked up a 494-317 career mark.

"We're definitely a young team, the youngest team in my 27 years of coaching," said Kachinko. "They're meshing really well together…we've had three consecutive 20-win seasons, so we have some lofty goals ahead of us. I like the make-up though of our freshmen and our team, we're coming into our own."

The Monarchs will be looking for their 17^th consecutive winning season in 2018, but Kachinko has been adamant that for this young group it's important to focus on getting better each day and learning the college game. If that happens, he's confident that things will take care of themselves into the later part of the season.

"I just hope we continue to get better in each practice," said Kachinko. "October is a long way away, so we just take it one day at a time as the cliché says…we just want to get better and put ourselves in the best position possible in our conference."

OFFENSE
The offensive unit last year was a strong one, as the Monarchs led the MAC Freedom in hitting percentage (.240). King's had two players in Miller and now-departed Kaitlyn Shifflett in the top 10 in the conference in both kills and swing percentage, and setter Maddie Kumm was fourth in assists per set with 8.87.

Even though Miller is the only returning Monarch player in the top five in total kills from a season ago, the offensive unit should still get its fair share of chances to terminate plays. Miller was the leader in attempts in 2017 with 948 and look for her to get just as many this season, as she is only 92 kills away from 1,000 for her career. Already ninth all-time in career kills, Miller will be a go-to arm in crunch time.

Senior Olivia Musto didn't get a ton of chances to attack last year with such an experienced group, but she did take advantage when she got her swings. Musto hit a strong .239 in her 71 attempts last year and posted 38 digs. Look for her to get more swings as a senior. Fellow returner Lindsey Brady is a versatile player for King's and will get chances as well both as an outside, in serve receive and as a defensive specialist. Also, look for Brady to be an important role model and leader for this young team.

The freshman group contains three outside hitters, led by newcomer Grace Frati out of Newark, Delaware. Joining her on the pins will be fellow freshmen Kait Roberts and Christie Brown, each of whom will be looking to grab a spot opposite of Miller.

The opposites and right-side hitters have a promising duo of freshmen to choose from, including 5-11 southpaw Becca Goldberg. The Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania native has looked strong in opening preseason, and could get a chance to swing a lot early for King's. Fellow newcomer Meg O'Brien from Long Island is another athletic and strong option as an opposite this season.

In the middle, King's will once again be young, but it does have a returning option to go to in Rachel Galante. The sophomore played in 66 sets last year as a newcomer and posted 47 kills while starting eight matches. That includes registering eight kills on nine swings in the 2017 season opener against Cairn University.

Looking to get reps in the middle as well will be a trio of freshmen consisting of Cleo Schultz, Danielle Kitchner and Sarah Hayward. Schultz was an All-State player in New Hampshire last year, while Kitchner and Hayward each played multiple sports in high school and are athletic, long and have strong arms. Look for all three to get a chance to take swings, while being an important blocking presence as well.

The offensive unit will be in some new hands, literally, in 2018. King's will have two new primary setters, though sophomore returner Alyssa Robinson can set when she's not playing in the backrow as a passer. Freshman Wiatt Hoffmann played for a successful high school and club program and has shown to have good hands and great instincts around the court.

Hoffmann will be joined by Maddy Penchishen, who played her prep volleyball for East Coast Volleyball Club and at Allentown Central Catholic. Penchishen sees the court well, distributes the ball to both pins and the middle and moves well around the court.

DEFENSE
The Monarchs played most of the season in 2017 without a libero, electing to go with a straight six and let most players play all the way around. That will change for the most part this year, as back row defense looks to be a strength for King's.

Kachinko brought in three strong defensive specialist and liberos who are battling for the starting libero spot, but all three will be very important and useful in keeping points alive, in serve receive and passing. If the group of Toni Galasso, Karissa Hartzell and Taylor Mueller can keep the Monarchs in system, the offensive unit will benefit as well.

Joining the freshman back row group as mentors and defensive specialists will be Brady and Robinson, who are both back for their second season. Robinson was a back-up setter last year, chalking up 44 assists, but also contributed in 50 sets with 59 digs.

At the net, Miller was fourth on the team in total blocks with 23 but look for that number to climb this season. Galante was fourth on the squad in rejections per set with 0.27, as her total blocks number should improve as well, while the size of the freshmen will also add to the net presence that King's possesses in 2018.

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The Monarchs will start their season Friday, August 31 at 3 p.m. against Penn State-Abington, followed immediately by a neutral site contest with Cedar Crest College at 5 p.m. in Abington, PA. King's make its first appearance in McGrane Gymnasium Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. against Clark's Summit University.