The Sagehens look to continue their successes on the court and improve on a solid 2007 season. With the loss of only 1 senior to graduation, there is a strong group of performers returning and ready to lead the way. Senior Middle Hitter Megan Prior looks to continue her strength at the net after garnering All America Honorable Mention, All Region and First Team All SCIAC honors, while senior libero Ruchi Patel will patrol the back court after a break-out season in 2007 also being selected to the SCIAC First Team. Both seniors will play a key role as Co-Captains and leaders of this squad.
We will have a battle on our hands in the setting position with sophomores Hannah Rasmussen, Erin Saliba (Second Team All SCIAC 2007) and freshman Kenzie Aries who could also see time attacking on the right side. Defensively we have a very strong unit with Patel, sophomores Emily Saliba and Ali Cone and freshman Heidi Leonard providing solid ball control.
On the outside junior Sarah Amos will be a strong contributor along with sophomore Emily Saliba and freshmen Jordan Hammond and Carly Hite. Hammond and Hite will serve the Hens in dual roles contributing not only on the outside, but in the middle and on the right side, respectively. Speaking of the right side, sophomores Eleanor Hughes and Christine Chan will also battle it out for court time.
Prior will lead the way in the middle along with junior Dana Kittrelle, both of which are in the Top Ten Career list for block assists and total blocks. Hammond and Hughes will add depth in this key position.
The 2008 Sagehens
The Sagehen Volleyball Squad will kick off its season hosting the Pacific Coast Classic on September 5-6, with Pacific Lutheran and Pacific on the 5th and Wheaton (IL) and Lewis & Clark on the 6th. They will then travel to the Cal-Lu-Fornia Tournament in Thousand Oaks to compete against CSU East Bay, Wheaton (MA), Willamette and UC Santa Cruz before heading to Bridgewater College in Virginia for a final pre-season tournament. Competition in Bridgewater includes Sweet Briar College, Southern Virginia, Randolph College and the host institution.
The Sagehens return home and open SCIAC hosting Whittier on September 23 followed by Occidental, CMS, La Verne, Cal Lu, Cal Tech and Redlands. Prior to beginning the second round of conference, the Hens will compete against Chapman University and visiting Elizabethtown. Senior Night for the Hens is Saturday, October 25 against cross campus rival CMS. |
