After a successful season in 2008, the West Chester University Lady Rams volleyball team is motivated to take another step forward in 2009 and become the first volleyball team at West Chester University to make the NCAA regional playoffs.The Golden Rams were 24-10 last season and finished 9-3 and in second place in the PSAC Eastern Division. Their playoff run was cut short by a quarterfinal-round loss to Shippensburg. According to head coach Kassie Bellavar, every team that makes the playoffs must earn it.
“Shippensburg is definitely on our radar,” Bellaver said. “You have to give Lock Haven a lot of respect as the defending champions and Kutztown has a good core group of players coming back.”
The expectations for this upcoming year are as high as they have ever been for Bellaver and her team.
“My expectations are to reach the PSAC playoffs and compete for the PSAC Championship. Another goal that we have is to be the first volleyball team at WCU to make the NCAA Regional Playoffs.”
Bellaver’s keys to being successful in 2009 are for the team to not peak too early or hit their stride too late in the season. Playing good consistent volleyball throughout the season will give the team a great chance to win the division.
The West Chester University volleyball team is returning all-leaguer Michelle Powers. She finished second on the team in 2008 with 245 kills and averaged a team leading 3.3 kills per game. Powers had a great year, however; injuries kept her from playing in the final 11 games of the year.
Powers and Kelly Martin will be patrolling the front row for West Chester in 2009. The 6-foot, 1-inch Martin is a freshman from Ontario who should make an immediate impact on the team. In addition to Powers and Martin, Samantha Ingersoll is a transfer student from the University of North Carolina who spent last spring playing softball for the Lady Rams. She is now making the transition to volleyball. In high school, Ingersoll was an all-state volleyball player.
A few freshmen that West Chester recruited should fight for playing time right away in 2009. Brooke Foskey and Lexi Kegerise are both 5-11 and can play all over the court. Foskey is known for her powerful arm swing while Kegerise uses her excellent offensive skills, including the ability to attack from the back row.
Junior Allison Focht returns as an outside hitter and gives Bellaver a left-handed option. Also on the outside Alyssa Brown and Bridget Kelley are the two likely candidates to start for WCU. Brown had 57 blocks last season, which was third on the team. Juniors Nora Jingeleski and Kyra Yost are returning to the back row. Both players have a lot of playing experience and are very comfortable in Bellaver’s system.
Co-captain Lisa Campbell returns to the back row as the teams Libero. Campbell led the Golden Rams with 370 digs a year ago and was fourth in service aces with 30.
“Her presence on the court and will to win is unmatched,” Bellaver said.
West Chester’s schedule in 2009 will be more difficult as the Rams face every team in the Western Division of the PSAC for the first time. Last year, WCU took both California (Pa.) and Lock Haven to five sets. In order to make the NCAA regional playoffs WCU will have to beat those teams.
“Making the playoffs is always a goal, but the attitude on this particular squad is that we can compete for a conference championship,” Bellaver said.
The West Chester University Golden Rams volleyball squad has a tall task ahead of them. They have both the players and the coaches to fulfill all their goals and become the first volleyball team at WCU to make it to the NCAA regional playoffs.
The Golden Rams open the season at home inside Hollinger Field House against Bloomfield on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 4 WCU is playing in a tournament hosted by Kutztown University where they will play Philadelphia University at 7 p.m. and on Saturday they take on Elizabeth City State at 10 a.m.
Steven Fisher is a third-year student majoring in communications with a minor in Journalism. He can be reached at SF674180@wcupa.edu.