The Clarion University women’s volleyball team opens up its 2003 season Saturday and Sunday and the Haverford Tournament before returning to Tippin Gym to open its home season Sept. 3 against Gannon.

The Golden Eagles are looking to continue the success the program saw last season when it set a school record for wins while advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in school history.

Clarion was 31-5 overall and 7-3 in the PSAC-West last season before losing 3-2 to Lees-McRae in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Regional in 2002.

But the sour ending to what otherwise was one of the best seasons in school history is enough to keep the Golden Eagles motivated for the 2003 campaign.

"We have a couple of things that are motivating us going into this season," third-year head coach Tracey Fluharty said. "First, we didn’t make the PSAC playoffs last year, and we want to make sure we put ourselves in a position to reach that goal this year. Second, we didn’t make it past the first round of the regional tournament. We want to at least get to the Round of 16 this season.

"The most important thing is to remember the past is the past," Fluharty said. "31-5 doesn’t mean anything this year. It is an all new season. We worked really hard to get where we did last year, but we are going to have to work harder this year. Hopefully the way the season ended last year will be enough motivation to get us focused on this season."

Clarion’s quest for bigger and better things starts with a talented group of returning players which is minus just one key players from last season in Beth Stalder, a second-team PSAC-West selection at middle blocker.

"We will miss Beth," Fluharty said. "Especially her leadership. But she is going to be helping our as an assistant coach this year."

The talent group of returning players is highlighted by three record-breaking seniors in outside hitter Melanie Bull (York/Susquehannock), setter Jackie Hill (York/Susquehannock) and Libero Laurie Hepler (Cochranton/Cochranton).

"We have three quality seniors to lead us," Fluharty said. "All three of them are very talented players. We know what they can do on the floor, so their No. 1 priority this season will be to demonstrate leadership."

Bull and Hill were both named first-team Daktronics Atlantic Region last season and first-team PSAC-West.

A three-year starter, Bull holds the Clarion career record for digs (1,477) and is second in school history in kills (1,342) needing 103 kills to surpass the record holder Jodi Pezek (1,444). Bull also is one-two on the single-season digs record list having recorded a school-record 602 in 2001 while following up with 577 last year. She set the school record for kills with 548 last season.

"What can you say about Melanie?" Fluharty said. "She has done a lot in her time here. This season, it is her responsibility to dominate our offense. She is our go-to player."

Hill has been a tremendous setter in her three seasons for the Golden Eagles and holds both the single-season record (1,552 - 2001) and the career record (4,421). In fact she currently has 1,431 more career set assists than the second-place player on the list Wendy Ellenberger. In the single-season category Hill sits one-two-four having had 1,461 last season and 1,408 in 2000. An all-around player, Hill is also sixth in school history with 1,083 career digs and need 299 to move into second place.

"Jackie’s career speaks for itself," Fluharty said. "She keeps the team together, and as our setter she is in charge of setting up our offense."

Hepler is the newest addition to the record book having starred in her first season as a Libero. She finished the year with 511 digs, the fourth most in a single-season in school history.

"Laurie has really improved a lot the last couple of season," Fluharty said. "She will be responsible for dominating our defense this season from the libero position."

Senior talent and leadership is not the only thing going for the Golden Eagles. Clarion also has a very talented core of underclassmen who will be expected to make key contributions in 2003 including junior middle hitter Colleen Sherk (Wilmington, De./Concord), junior outside hitter Tonya Zatko (Leesport/Schuylkill Valley), junior outside hitter Sara Heyl (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill), sophomore outside hitter Heather Byrne (Van Wert, Ohio) and sophomore Libero/Defensive Specialist Ashley Kreiner (London, Ohio/London).

"We have a talented group of underclassmen," Fluharty said. "Our juniors have experience now, but they will be expected to step up and be the second line into battle behind our seniors. Our sophomores have a year of college volleyball under them. I expect them to fight the other players for positions."

Last season Sherk, Zatko and Heyl came into their own. Sherk led the team with 147 blocks while adding 258 kills and 92 digs, while Zatko was second on the team with 321 kills while adding 93 blocks. Heyl added 224 kills, 331 digs and 63 blocks.

The two sophomore, Byrne and Kreiner, also showed signs of being key players. Last season Byrne had 165 digs, while Kreiner had 261 digs.

Other returnees for the Golden Eagles include sophomore outside hitter Megan Rodgers and sophomore middle hitter Karen Stoklosa.

In addition to the returning players, the Golden Eagles have a strong group of freshmen coming in including middle hitter Lindsay Banner (Clarion/Clarion), setter Amanda Kolcun (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), Libero Jenn Sacco (Cochranton/Cochranton) and defensive specialist Halee Schnur (Chicora/Butler).

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: Clarion opens PSAC-West play Sept. 16 at IUP and will host its first PSAC-West match Sept. 19 against Lock Haven ... The Golden Eagles will also play host to the Holiday Inn Classic Oct. 3-4 and a PSAC Crossover weekend Oct. 10-11 ... Fluharty has gone 54-21 overall and 10-10 in the PSAC-West in her two seasons at Clarion ... The PSAC Playoffs will have an expanded format this season with the top three teams in each division qualifying for the postseason ... In past years only the top two in each division qualified for the postseason ... Clarion last qualified for the PSAC playoffs in 1990 when the Golden Eagles were 24-15 overall and 5-3 in the PSAC-West finishing in second place. The Golden Eagle lost to Shippensburg 3-1 in the first round then beat West Chester 3-0 in the PSAC Consolation game.

by Chris Rossetti