CLARION CONCLUDES SCHOOL RECORD FIFTH STRAIGHT 20-WIN SEASON
The Clarion University women’s volleyball team recently concluded a school-record fifth straight 20-win season by going 23-12.
“To have five seasons with 20-plus wins truly means a lot,” Clarion’s fifth-year head coach Tracey Fluharty said. “I believe this is a great achievement not only for myself as the coach but also for the members of the teams we have had over the past five seasons. The players truly deserve a lot of recognition for their hard work and determination.”
The Golden Eagles, who are 132-52 (71.7 percent) over the past five years, were 1-9 in the PSAC-West and barely missed making the NCAA D-II playoffs for the fourth straight season while being in the hunt for a playoff spot into the final weeks of the season.
“It was disappointing to not go to the playoffs,” Fluharty said. “But that gives us something to work on in the future. Overall, I believe there were a lot of things we can learn from this past season. Not making it to the postseason is only going to make this team work harder in the off-season.”
Three seniors who comprised the winningest four-year class in school history led Clarion.
Middle hitter Karen Stoklosa (Hamburg, NY), setter Ashley Kreiner (London, Ohio) and outside hitter/defensive specialist Heather Bryne (Van Wert, Ohio) helped the Golden Eagles go 109-36 (75.2 percent) over the past four seasons with three trips to the NCAA D-II playoffs and one voyage to the PSAC Playoffs (2004).
“The senior class was a very special group to me,” Fluharty said. “They were my first recruiting class. From day one, I had the opportunity to work with them and see them grow as individuals and competitors. They were truly a very special group of young ladies.”
A second-team PSAC-West selection, Stoklosa lead Clarion with 154 blocks and 45 service aces while adding 233 kills and 123 digs. She finished third in the PSAC with 1.31 blocks per game.
Finishing her career third in school history in blocks (526), Stoklosa added 746 kills, 131 aces and 331 digs in her four years. Her 191 blocks in 2004 are the fifth most in school history, while her 168 in 2003 tie for the seventh most and her 154 this year are the 11th most.
“Karen developed into one of the strongest middle hitters in the conference,” Fluharty said. “She has a lot of power, and her blocking was key to a lot of our wins over the past four years. She played with so much passion and desire this year.”
Kreiner, who was a first-team Daktronics All-Region and second-team PSAC-West choice as a junior, finished her career in solid fashion leading Clarion with 1,342 set assists, the seventh most in school history in a season, while ranking third in the PSAC with 11.47 assists per game. She also added 130 kills, 359 digs and 59 blocks.
Ashley’s name is written all over the Golden Eagle record book. Despite playing setter only her last two seasons, she is second in school history with 3,030 set assists, and she is third in school history with 1,454 digs. Her 1,679 assists in 2004 are a school record, while her 535 digs in 2003 rank fifth all-time at Clarion.
“Ashley’s heart and determination are in a class of their own,” Fluharty said. “Everyday in practice and during matches she was determined to be the best that she could be. She is one of the best setters I have had the honor of coaching.”
Bryne was a solid four-year player who did what ever she was asked to do and was rewarded by ranking 11th in school history with 1,026 career digs. This season she moved back and forth between defense and offense and excelled at both finishing with 172 kills and 426 digs.
Heather added 349 kills, 89 service aces and 54 blocks to her 1,026 digs in her career.
“Heather was not afraid to give it her all when she played,” Fluharty said. “She was one of our best players on serve receive and came through for us hitting this year. She developed into a great player and demonstrated a lot of leadership on and off the court.”
While the seniors played key roles for the Golden Eagles in 2005, Clarion was a relatively young team that saw three sophomores and two juniors play over 100 games, while two more sophomores played key roles as well.
“We had a young and very talented team,” Fluharty said. “I believe the off-season will be a great time for us to grow as a team.”
Sophomore hitters Sarah Fries (Willard, Ohio) and Christina Steiner (Florence, Kentucky) battled all season for the team lead in kills.
Fries ended up edging Steiner for the honor 332 to 327 and added 76 digs and 58 blocks to the equation. Steiner, meanwhile, contributed with 254 digs, 46 blocks and 21 service aces.
Vicky Gentile, a sophomore defensive player, added a second consecutive solid defensive season. She led the team with 567 digs, the fourth most in school history – she also holds the school record with 711 last year – and through two seasons she ranks seventh at Clarion with 1,278 career digs and is 222 digs shy of becoming just the second player in school history to have 1,500 career digs. Her 4.81 digs per game was the sixth best mark in the PSAC this year.
Junior middle hitter Lindsay Banner (Clarion) and junior defensive specialist Jenn Sacco (Cochranton) also played key roles.
Banner had 201 kills, 80 blocks and 50 digs this season and has 238 kills and 94 career blocks.
Sacco finished the year with 405 digs, the 18th most in a season at Clarion, and she now has 785 career digs.
Sophomores Kristi Fiorillo (Meadville – 241 digs), Lauren Wiefling (Butler/Knoch – 148 kills, 47 digs) and Tressa Dvorsky (Jeannette/Hempfield – 95 digs) and freshman Amy Gottuso (Baden/Ambridge – 37 kills, 33 blocks) played supporting roles for the Golden Eagles.
Sophomore Nicole Harrison (Grove City, Ohio – 7 games, 9 kills) and freshmen Hannah Robinson (Atlanta, Ga./Woodward Academy – 3 games, 3 kills, 3 blocks) and Karaline Naegele (Palmer, Alaska – 3 games, 9 kills) all got key experience during the year.
Heather Bryne
Ashley Kreiner
Karen Stoklosa