ROCK HILL, SC – A new era begins for the Winthrop volleyball program this weekend as the Eagles open their 2011 season on Friday when they face UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m. in the 2011 Winthrop Classic presented by Hampton Inn. Winthrop will play a total of 10 home matches this season.
New is the key word for this year's Winthrop squad as the Eagles have a new head coach as well as seven new freshman faces. Big South Conference veteran Julie Torbett takes over Winthrop's head coaching duties after 18 years at UNC Asheville where she compiled a record of 304-261 to become the all-time winningest coach in Big South history.
Following Friday night's season opener, Torbett will send her team up against Mercer and Davidson on Saturday at 12 noon and 7 p.m. All matches will be played in the Winthrop Coliseum. Davidson and Mercer will open the tournament play at 5 p.m. on Friday. UNCW and Davidson will face off at 10 a.m. on Saturday while UNCW and Mercer will be meet later in the day at 5 p.m. Daily Tickets for the Classic are priced at $5 for adults; $3 for seniors and children (ages 2-12); and $2 each for groups of 10 or more people. Winthrop students and faculty/staff are admitted free with their valid ID card.
“I know that I will be nervous when we take the floor on Friday, but I am very excited to get the season underway and evaluate how our team has progressed during preseason practice,” said Torbett. The Eagles are completing a rigorous preseason practice schedule this week leading up to their three tournament matches.
Winthrop's first opponent, UNC Wilmington, posted a 7-23 record last season and a 1-13 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. Coached by former Coastal Carolina standout Amy Bambenek, the Seahawks will be led by senior Emily Mohrman who was third on the team last season in kills with 156 and by Haley Collins, the team's dig leader with 308. Mercer posted a 14-18 record last season and a 6-4 mark in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Bears are coached by Noelle Rooke, the winningest coach in program history. Davidson is coming off a 16-18 season in which the Wildcats compiled a 7-10 mark in the Southern Conference. Davidson is led by head coach Chris Willis, who is in his first season with the program. Like Winthrop, the Wildcats graduated five seniors from a year ago and have three seniors on this year's team.
Winthrop is projected to finish fourth according to the Big South's annual preseason poll after finishing last season with a 14-16 record overall and a 10-6 mark in the conference. Winthrop fell to top-seeded Liberty in the semi-finals last season to end its 2010 campaign.
The 2011 version of the Eagles will feature six returning players, including Preseason Player of the Year
Becca Toor (6-2, Rotunda West, FL), a senior who earned Second Team All-Big South honors in 2010. Torbett will also have junior defensive specialist
Kristin Cruse (5-8, Pasadena, TX) and outside hitter
Carolyn Weed (5-11, Albuquerque, NM), and right side hitter
Brittany Blackman (6-3, Sanford, NC) returning along with sophomores
Stephanie Palmer (5-10, Spartanburg, SC) a setter, and libero
Carly DeBruhl (5-5, Greenville, SC). Winthrop was hit hard by graduation last year as five starters, including kills leader
Kaley Viola and assist leader
Kelsey Hall, are gone.
Toor was voted Preseason Player of the Year by the league's head coaches. Last season she produced 336 kills from her middle hitter position and posted a .329 attack percentage, which ranked second in the conference. She is the fourth Winthrop player to receive this honor in the last six seasons.
Cruse and DeBruhl combined for 384 digs last season to lead the Eagles on defense. Palmer saw action in 2010 at a couple of positions. When starting setter
Kelsey Hall went down with an injury, Palmer saw some time at the setting position, and when Hall came back to the starting lineup, Palmer saw action as an outside hitter. She finished the 2010 season with 83 kills, 73 digs and 184 assists.
Weed is being counted on to provide more offensive power this season after finishing last year with 114 kills and 71 digs. Blackman, a red-shirt junior who plans to graduate in December, will also be providing some experience to a young Winthrop team as she produced 103 kills in 2010 from the right side.
Depth-wise, the Eagles will have a lot of young talent with the seven freshmen. Adding to the defensive depth are
Catherine Brusie (5-3, Lapeer, MI) and
Makala McCrorey (5-7, Rock Hill, SC), both defensive specialists.
Lauren Landsman (5-9, Chagrin Falls, OH) and
Delaney Forsythe (6-1, Cedar Falls, TX) will see be matched up with Weed at the outside hitting position.
Jennica Mullins (6-1, Seminole, FL) will be listed as the only middle blocker on the team this year while
Katie Biddix (5-10, Tucson, AZ) will see action from the right side position.
Jenna Hugeback (5-10, Virginia Beach, VA) will step in and possibly spilt time with Palmer at the setting position.
