CLARION VOLLEYBALL SEEKS THIRD STRAIGHT NCAA PLAYOFF BID

Eagles open season at Ashland To.

            The Clarion University women’s volleyball team opens its 2004 season Friday (Aug. 27) at the Ashland Tournament.

            “We are excited to get the season underway,” fourth-year head coach Tracey Fluharty said. “We have had some good practices and are ready to start playing games.”

            The Golden Eagles are in search of their third straight NCAA Division II Playoff berth this season after going 26-10 overall, 5-5 PSAC-West last year and 31-5, 7-3 in 2002.

            “We’re not going to put pressure on ourselves to make the playoffs,” Fluharty said. “We aren’t going to make comparisons to past teams. What is in the past should stay in the past. Our main goal isn’t to qualify for the PSAC or NCAA playoffs but instead will be to take things one match at a time. I think if from day one we put the playoffs as a goal, we are putting too much pressure on ourselves. If we say we would like to reach the playoffs, and we go step-by-step, game-by-game and let things take care of themselves, we will be able to get where we want to go.”

            One of the challenges facing Clarion this season will be replacing three seniors who were an integral part of the Golden Eagles rise to prominence in the Region.

            Gone from last year’s team are the school’s all-time leader in kills and digs, Melanie Bull, and the school’s all-time leading setter, Jackie Hill. Both players were two-time All-Region players as well as first-team PSAC-West selections. Laurie Hepler, who is now the graduate assistant coach for Clarion, is the third player who is missing from last season’s team. Hepler was a key defensive component for the Golden Eagles the past two years.            

            “Those players will be missed,” Fluharty said. “But we have a lot of talent returning, and we expect a lot of leadership from those returning players. We are also going to expect some leadership from our incoming freshmen because there are some open spots in the lineup to fill.”

            The formula for success this season will be team chemistry and team work.       

            “I strongly believe that team chemistry and team work will equal to success,” Fluharty said. “We are not going to set a numbers goal in terms of record, but we are going to set a goal that we want to be successful. That means having a winning record, but not a certain number of wins, and we want to finish high in the conference and regional rankings.”    

            Middle hitter Colleen Sherk and outside hitters Sara Heyl and Tonya Zatko will provide senior leadership for the Golden Eagles.

            Sherk was an AVCA All-Atlantic Region and second-team PSAC-West performer last season after finishing second on the team in both kills (435) and blocks (157). She needs 273 career kills (she has 699) and 110 career blocks (she has 310) to move into the top five in school history in each category.  

            “Colleen is one of the strongest middles in the conference,” Fluharty said. “She can do anything she sets her mind to.”

Heyl added 253 kills, 419 digs and 98 blocks last year and ranks 11^th in school history with 877 digs while adding 495 kills and 164 blocks in her career. 

            “Sara is one of the most talented players in the conference,” Fluharty said. “Her strengths include her passing, setting and hitting. She can play any position well.”

            Zatko is coming off an injury-plagued season in which she played in just 27 games but had 64 kills and 27 blocks. As a sophomore in 2002, she was second on the team with 321 kills while adding 93 blocks and 78 digs.

            “Tonya is working hard, and I believe she will be stronger than ever this season,” Fluharty said. “She wants to finish her career off strong, and we are going to expect her to contribute as she did in the past. She is going to be one of the keys to our offense this season.”

            Juniors Ashley Kreiner, Karen Stoklosa and Heather Byrne will help form the upperclass nucleus for Clarion. 

            Kreiner is sliding over from Libero to setter this season becoming the first new setter for the Golden Eagles since Hill took over as a freshman in 2000. Kreiner led Clarion with 535 digs last year, the third most in a single season in school history.

            “Ashley made the transition to setter great in the spring,” Fluharty said. “She has great court sense and court awareness, and I am truly comfortable with her transition.”

            Stoklosa, a middle hitter, had a breakout 2003 season leading the team with 168 blocks while adding 240 kills.

Byrne, an outside hitter, saw action in 85 games with 112 kills, 18 blocks and 68 digs.

            Sophomores Lindsay Banner, Halee Schnur and Jenn Sacco will also see playing time.

            Banner, a middle hitter, was limited to six games last season because of an injury, while Schnur, a Libero, and Sacco, a defensive specialist, saw limited action as freshmen.    

Nine freshmen join the returning players with many of them expected to contribute immediately.

            Vicky Gentile has played her way into the starting Libero position.

            “Vicky is extremely quick in the back row and doesn’t quit on any ball,” Fluharty said. “She is fitting in extremely well with the other players on the court like they have been playing together for four or five years. She has been very precise with her passing.”

            Middle hitters Tressa Dvorsky and Amanda Angermeier and outside hitters Christian Steiner, Lauren Wiefling and Sarah Fries will also see playing time.

            “Tressa and Amanda are picking up the offense extremely well,” Fluharty said. “All three outside hitters are doing a great job hitting, and all of them are stepping up and putting the ball away. We expect them to contribute.”

            Kristi Fiorillo should contribute as a defensive specialist.

            “Kristi is a setter, but we are also looking at her playing defense,” Fluharty said. “She should contribute as a defensive specialist.”    

            Additional freshmen who could have an impact for the Golden Eagles include outside hitters Lindsay Wiefling, Lauren’s twin sister, and Nicole Harrison.        

            GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES: Fluharty is 80-31 in three seasons at Clarion including 15-15 in PSAC-West play ... She has a collegiate coaching record of 179-87 in seven season including four at Glenville St. ... Clarion opens its home season Sept. 4 when its hosts the Clarion Quads … The PSAC-West opener is Sept. 14 at home vs. Lock Haven, and the Golden Eagles will host the Holiday Inn Classic Oct. 1-2 at Tippin Gym.

Sr. Middle Hitter Colleen Sherk

Sr. Outside Hitter Sara Heyl

Sr. Outside Hitter Tonya Zatko

Head coach Tracey Fluharty