Aug. 27, 2008
The 2008 Lafayette volleyball team will rely on a true team approach to achieve success this season. With a key core of returning players to provide leadership and a talented incoming class, the parts are in place for a highly competitive and exciting year.
"One of our biggest strengths is that we play together as a unit," said head coach Terri Dadio Campbell. "We don't necessarily rely on one player in order to win. Everyone has a role and in order for us to be successful, each person has to do their part. Our freshmen bring with them great skills and knowledge of the game and will fill our needs nicely."
The veterans provide stability in all areas of the court, particularly in the setter position and on defense. The leadership they provide will reflect in all areas of the team and with talent and dedication at every position, the team is in search of a Patriot League Tournament berth.
"We expect the Patriot League to be as competitive as always," Campbell said. "We are certainly focused on making a return to the Patriot League Tournament which features the top four teams in the conference."
Schedule
The Leopards open the season at the La Salle Tournament on Aug. 29-30 and Campbell expects an even higher level of competition this year with Northern Colorado and Villanova traveling to the tournament. Lafayette will also host the inaugural Crosstown Tournament with rival Lehigh as well as the annual Lafayette College Tournament, both in September.
The team plays a competitive non-league schedule and will face several teams new to the slate, including Manhattan and the Big East's Seton Hall.
Patriot League play opens at home on Sept. 26 against Army. Campbell expects a tightly contested race for tournament spots and that the final seedings may not be determined until the final weekend of play when Lafayette travels to Colgate and Bucknell, making the match against the Bison a pivotal one.
Setters
The setter position will be one of the team's greatest strengths with two returning players who provide both depth and experience.
Senior co-captain Megan Carter will be the team's starting setter. Carter appeared in 105 games last season and led the team with 976 assists (9.30 apg), the second best single-season mark in Lafayette history.
Junior Ashton Rossi also returns after a sophomore season in which she played in 29 games and averaged 6.17 assists per game.
Defensive Specialists
Lafayette, which averaged nearly 18 digs per game as a team last year, returns two defensive players in senior co-captain Kat Kretzmer and junior Kari Horn. Kretzmer, a solid back row player, played in 78 games last season and averaged 1.60 digs per game.
Horn will be the team's starting libero. Horn appeared in 30 of the Leopards' 32 matches during her sophomore season and was second on the team with 414 digs (4.10 dpg). Freshman Christy Mebust will serve as another option off the bench for Campbell.
Middle Hitters
This is a position in which Lafayette expects to see contributions from both veterans and rookies. Senior Ainhoa Barturen appeared in all but one of the team's matches in 2007, averaging 1.55 digs per game. Sophomore Kelsey Slater played in 12 matches her rookie season and has the flexibility to play middle or right side.
Freshmen Alana Taylor and Ally Taylor have the talent to compete for significant playing time, making this one of the Leopards' deepest positions.
Outside/Right Side Hitters
Sophomores Kayly Elmer and Katrina Racibarskas, who had solid rookie seasons, return as Lafayette's premier outside hitters. Racibarskas, a five-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, played in all 32 matches and led the team with 327 kills. Elmer, also once named a Patriot League Rookie of the Week, averaged a team-best 2.93 kills per game.
Also in the mix is junior Cara Mulholland, who returns after a lingering shoulder injury. Mulholland, who had an impressive freshman year, has all the tools to be a significant contributor. Rookie Andrea Duvall is a solid right side hitter and will bring a new dimension to the team as a lefty. Classmate Mary Cunning will also add depth to the position.
Coaches
Roster
Schedule
