2012 W&J Volleyball Preview
The Washington & Jefferson College volleyball team has a new leader in charge of the program as it aims to return to postseason play in 2012.
Brooke Turner is the Presidents’ new head coach after a successful five-run at NCAA Division II West Liberty State University. She inherits a team that returns 13 letterwinners from last season’s 8-20 squad and hopes to help the Presidents once again earn a spot in the PAC Tournament.
Sophomore middle hitter Lindsey Bennett will look to build upon a standout rookie campaign in which she led W&J with 171 kills and finished fourth in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference with 0.98 blocks per set (86 total blocks). Junior Megan Lewandowski will likely also see time in the middle after finishing third on the team with 127 kills.
Junior Tori Clark will aid in the Presidents’ offensive assult as an outside hitter. Clark finished 15th in the conference by averaging 2.47 kills per game as a freshman but missed a majority of last season due to injury. Joining Clark will be classmates Samantha Chorney, Madison Rotto and Rachel Wallace. Chorney led W&J in digs (286) and was second in kills (166) and aces (10). Wallace racked up 120 kills, while Rotto accumulated 92.
The Presidents’ top setter will likely be Megan Stoehr. Stoehr placed 10th in the league with 343 assists as a freshman last season. Rotto could also see time as a setter, as she has accumulated 281 career helpers.
Juniors Eva Irwin and Maura Lyle along with sophomore Sarah Stedina are the team’s most experienced defensive specialists. Irwin has recorded 46 digs and 30 blocks during her career, while Lyle has racked up 93 digs. Stedina posted 150 digs as a freshman.
W&J opens its 2012 campaign at La Roche on Sept. 4 (7:00 pm) and returns to the Henry Memorial Center for its annual two-day home tournament on Sept. 8-9.
