• Sun, 11/13 | Women's Volleyball at Fairleigh Dickinson W, 3-2 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 11/12 | Women's Volleyball at LIU Brooklyn L, 3-0 (Final) RC
  • Sun, 11/06 | Women's Volleyball vs. Saint Francis (PA) L, 3-2 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 11/05 | Women's Volleyball vs. Robert Morris W, 3-2 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 10/29 | Women's Volleyball at Quinnipiac W, 3-0 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sun, 10/23 | Women's Volleyball vs. Central Connecticut W, 3-1 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 10/22 | Women's Volleyball at St. Francis (NY) W, 3-1 (Final) BX | RC
  • Wed, 10/19 | Women's Volleyball at Providence L, 3-1 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sun, 10/16 | Women's Volleyball vs. Fairleigh Dickinson L, 3-1 (Final) BX | RC
  • Sat, 10/15 | Women's Volleyball vs. LIU Brooklyn L, 3-0 (Final) BX | RC
 

Bryant Volleyball Opens Season Friday at Puerto Rico Tournament

August 27, 2004

BRYANT VOLLEYBALL OPENS SEASON FRIDAY AT PUERTO RICO TOURNAMENT

Bulldogs Ready For Defense of Its’ Northeast-10 Conference Title

If there is one constant that Bryant volleyball has been known for, it’s winning. The returning athletes on this year’s roster have won a total of 97 matches over the past three years, and with five starters returning, including two all-Americans, the potential is there for yet another berth in the NCAA playoffs.

For a program that has continued to raise the bar of excellence, it might be hard to find new goals to set at the beginning of each season. However, with all of the rich tradition of success, including five consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, there is one thing that has eluded the Bulldogs: a regional title.

Under the direction of ninth-year coach Theresa Garlacy, the Bulldogs return an experienced team that helped set a school record for wins last season and finished the year undefeated in the Northeast-10, winning both the regular season and conference tournament titles.

A fixture in the NCAA tournament during the past decade, the Bulldogs made yet another strong run in the postseason tournament, reaching the Sweet Sixteen for the second-consecutive year, only to see its season come to an end in the regional finals.

As the 2004 season approaches, the Bulldogs appear to have the necessary tools that just might help them reach that goal of bringing home the coveted regional championship.

When something works so well, why fix it? After a stellar sophomore season, the Bulldog offense will once again be centered around the play of junior outside hitter Michelle Muñiz ‘06. With a powerful swing and tremendous athletic ability in her arsenal, Muniz will be the focus on the attack. Last year, she tallied 596 kills (4.52 kills per game) and served up 88 aces with an excellent jump serve. For her efforts, she took home conference player of the year honors as well as earning honorable mention all-American honors by the AVCA.

She’ll be joined on the outside by sophomores Vanessa Lavallee ‘07 and Beth Schlatterer ‘07 and newcomer Jessica Henson ‘08. Lavallee is an athletic player who hits hard. She hit .274 offensively with 149 kills. Schlatterer played in 29 matches as a freshman, picking up 125 kills and adds size in the front row.

Junior Patricia Jiménez ‘06 and newcomers Crystal Faust ‘08 and Alyssa Bowen ‘08 will anchor the right side this year. Jiménez saw limited time last year but gives the team good speed and another strong option on offense. She had 29 kills in 15 matches. Faust is coming off a successful club season and should see time in the rotation this fall.

In the middle, the Bulldogs will look to junior Lindsay Klix ‘06 and sophomore Jess Cegarra ‘07 to contribute to the attack. The six-foot Klix is the tallest Bulldog on the roster and brings two seasons of experience under her belt. Last year, Klix hit .232 with 329 kills and was third on the team with 89 blocks.

Cegarra, like Muniz, gives the Bulldogs strong athleticism in the front row. A standout track athlete, Cegarra was named the AVCA regional freshman of the year and conference newcomer of the year after tallying 462 kills and a team-best 170 blocks. She played in all 44 matches and her return to the lineup this year will be critical to the team’s success.

For any team to be successful there needs to be good defense and strong passing to kick-start the offense. For Garlacy and the Bulldogs, they’ll have the luxury of having perhaps one of the best passers in the region in libero Carola Pierluisi ‘05.

Named a second team all-American by Daktronics, Pierluisi led the conference with a school-record 716 defensive digs last season and was a true catalyst in the Bulldogs’ conference and tournament playoffs. As a senior, she has the opportunity to conclude her career as the school’s all-time career leader in digs.

The one area that the Bulldogs will not have a key starter returning will be at the setter position. To replace a four-time all-conference and all-region setter like Britta Beckman will be a tall task for Garlacy, the position is there for the taking with three players vying for the starting spot.

Sophomore Elycse Tackman ‘07 returns after seeing limited time as a backup to Beckman last season. In 39 matches last season, Tackman had 81 assists. She’ll contend with newcomers Tiffany Garry ‘08 and Erin Leavitt ’08 and who bring excellent high school and club experience to the Bulldogs.

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