ROCK HILL, SC -- The Winthrop Volleyball team opens the 2010 campaign this weekend in Williamsburg, VA as they participate in the four-team Tribe Invitational which is being hosted by the College of William and Mary.
The Eagles take on the Wisconsin Badgers on Friday in Kaplan Arena at 10 a.m. and will face the Seton Hall Pirates at 5 p.m. Winthrop was originally scheduled to play Connecticut at 4 p.m. on Friday, but the Huskies had to withdraw from the tournament at the last moment.
Head Coach Sally Polhamus is entering her fourth year at the helm of the Eagles program and will have a veteran-led roster that includes five seniors, two juniors and a couple of sophomores..
The Eagles were projected to finish third by the league's coaches in the Big South Preseason Poll after graduating 2009 Big South Player of the Year, Kelley Taylor. The Eagles finished third in the Big South last season, compiling a 19-11 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the conference. The Eagles fell in the conference tournament quarterfinals to Charleston Southern.
Senior outside hitter Kaley Viola (Orlando, FL) comes into the year earning a spot on the Preseason All-Big South Team. She is expected to lead the attack due to her team-leading 370 kills and 3.14 kills per game average last season. Viola ranked among the conference leaders in kills per game and total service aces with 40, earning her Second Team All-Conference honors in 2009.
The offense will be directed by senior setter Kelsey Hall (Berryton, KS) who enters the season ranked third on the all-time assists list with 3,329. Hall needs 1,158 assists to move past Cristi Curtis (1996-99) and 1,562 to take the top spot away from Emily Heckl (2003-06). Hall led the Big South last season in assists per game with 10.44 and had a team high 1,221 assists. This will be Hall's forth season as the starting setter for the Eagles.
The Eagles will also be looking for leadership from seniors Sara Felts (Branchville, VA) and Kellie Sellers (Allentown, PA). Felts, a middle hitter, will be an asset when it comes to the blocking game for the Eagles. She posted 75 blocks, including 63 block assists last season. Sellers, who plays as an outside hitter, has posted a career kill total of 674 which is ranked second out of the current Eagle players.
Injuries have forced Kelsey Harrison (Lawrence, KS) to miss a majority of her career at Winthrop, but this year Harrison looks to contribute in a major way. Harrison saw action in 24 games last season before a knee injury ended her season. She is expected to be the frontrunner for the starting libeiro position this fall. The libeiro position should be strong for the Eagles this season.
Kristin Cruse (Pasadena, TX) returns after gaining considerable experience during her freshman campaign, and freshman newcomer Carly DeBruhl (Greenville, SC) could also see some time at the libeiro spot as well.
Junior middle hitter Becca Toor (Rotonda West, FL) will also be a contributor on the court this season for the Eagles. Her .273 hitting percentage was second-best on the team last year and she has 176 career kills. Toor and Felts will be the key components of the Eagles' blocking game. They combined last season for a total of 126 blocks.
The Eagles strong depth starts with sophomore outside hitter Carolyn Weed (Albuquerque, NM) and red-shirt sophomore right side Brittany Blackman (Sanford, NC) and continues with freshmen setter Stephanie Palmer (Spartanburg, SC), outside hitter Lauren Marlatt (Cincinnati, OH) and middle blocker Deidre Noble (Lorain, OH). All of the players coming off the bench this season will contribute in some way. Polhamus is excited about her young and talented core of athletes that can be used at any time during the contest.
The Eagles will return to the Winthrop Coliseum Sept. 3-4 as they host the 2010 Carolina Challenge. Winthrop will face off against College of Charleston on Friday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m., and will host Clemson and South Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
