2010 Wheeling Jesuit University Volleyball Season Outlook

It has been said that good college teams don’t rebuild – they re-load.  After losing nine players from last season’s West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship team, Head Coach Christy Benner will be digging deep into the ammunition stockpile in 2010.

 “That is the nature of college athletics,” explained Benner, entering her ninth season as the Cardinals’ head coach.  “We know we are going to have some turnover every year, some years more than others.  We lost some tremendous players, and now it is time for other players to step up and show their skills.”

Leading the charge will be 2009 WVIAC Player of the Year Keysha Allison – one of only three seniors on the team.  Last season, Allison was second on the team in assists (4.98 per game), second in blocks (0.63 per game), third in kills (2.10 per game), and fourth in digs (2.16 per game). “Keysha does it all,” said Benner.  “She sets, she hits, she blocks, and she plays tenacious defense.  Keysha is a great athlete and a great competitor.”

Junior setter Kristen DuBroy (5.46 assists per game in 2009) will team with Allison to make the offense go.  Regarding DuBroy’s critical role, Benner commented, “Kristen’s emergence during her freshman season allowed us to expand and enhance our offense, and add a new dimension to it.  Her contributions to the team have been invaluable.”

The new-look front row configuration figures to be a hotbed of competition as pre-season practice begins.  The 2009 WVIAC Freshman of the Year Allissa Ware, who led the team with 371 kills, and junior middle blocker Megan Ozarzak are the two returning starters from last year’s championship team.  Junior Catelyn Anderson and sophomore Angela McNulty were vital contributors last season and will each be vying for playing time as outside hitters.  Redshirt freshman Ashley Remlinger, who missed almost all of her true freshman year due to injury, adds some much-needed height and depth to the hitting position.

Highly-regarded freshmen Casey Gates, Jenna Pew, and Corrin Early also join the front row mix, and all three have the potential to be impact players.

Senior libero Laura O’Reilly is slated to anchor the Cardinal defense.  O’Reilly was recognized last season as a second-team all-conference performer, finishing second in the conference with 594 digs.  “Laura has been so solid for our program since the day she first arrived on campus,” stated Benner.  “It is a great relief for a coach to know you have such a steady player and leader on the court.”

Senior Andrea Bova and sophomore Maria Meyer are the only other returning defensive specialists, and will be joined by freshman Gabby Guanciale in the back row.

Freshman Jennifer Mohney has played every position during her high school and club careers and adds great versatility and athleticism to the team.

Assistant coach Matt Benner, Christy’s husband, returns for his tenth season as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, and fifteenth season overall with the Cardinal volleyball program.  “I can’t say enough about Matt,” said head coach Christy Benner.  “He commits so much time, energy and passion to this program.  And he also goes out and recruits all these top-caliber players.  But beyond that, he truly cares about our players and their families – and that is what sets him apart.”

Kayla Fetsko is joining the Cardinals’ program as a graduate assistant coach.  Fetsko will be responsible for coaching the newly formed junior varsity team in addition to assisting with the varsity squad.  Fetsko played two years of volleyball at Slippery Rock University (making NCAA regional appearances in both of her seasons), and served as an assistant coach at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania last year.

Wheeling Jesuit opens the season September 3 at the two-day St. Mary’s University tournament in San Antonio, Texas.  The Cardinals’ home opener is slated for September 8 against Slippery Rock, and WJU will begin conference play at home on September 15 in a split doubleheader against Fairmont State and Ohio Valley.

The WVIAC tournament is scheduled for November 11-13 in Charleston, West Virginia, with the tournament winner receiving an automatic berth in the NCAA Atlantic Regional tournament the following weekend.