2010 Season Preview

Volleyball Ready for Banner Season 

Purchase, NY (Sept. 1, 2010) – A made over roster, loaded with talent, has the Purchase women’s volleyball team dreaming of postseason glory.

“We have very high hopes for a record-breaking year,” said head coach Nelson Kwok. “From our first official practice, the air was electric. There’s a lot of hustle and heart on this team, and we’ve improved our overall athleticism.”

[Pictured above: 2009 ALL-SKYLINE SELECTION TAYLOR EDELMANN.
-Photo by Oren Vourman]

The Panthers have doubled their roster from a year ago, but more importantly have not only added bodies but added more talent and depth to the starting rotation and bench.

Transfer Rebecca Dittler headlines the group of newcomers. The former Corning Community College standout joins a long list of Kwok’s star recruiting class for this fall, which includes San Jose, CA product Catherine Clark, local recruit Cathryn Mulvey of Eastchester, Lindsay Navagh of Fulton, Long Island’s Regina Lynch, Milford, CT’s Megan Cohen and Bronx product Yudelka Vasquez.

Although the incoming class has garnered a lot of attention this preseason, it’s Purchase core returners who will likely make the difference this season. Their ability to provide leadership and experience will be key to the development of the squad’s young players, says Kwok.

Michelle Fetky, now back at full strength following injury, and fellow returners Olivia Hintz, Mickaela Olson, Laura Dykas, Taylor Edelmann, Erika Stahl and Rachael Popovic comprise the nucleus.    

Edelmann dominated nearly every statistical category both offensively and defensively as a freshman for the Panthers last fall. She earned two Honor Roll distinctions along the way and was named the Skyline Player of the Week in late September. She was later named to the All-Skyline 2nd Team.

Hintz also enjoyed a fine season. She killed over 200 points last fall and led the team in blocks (14) for the second year in a row, earning an Honor Roll nod of her own in mid October.

Fetky, who missed most of 2008 with a torn ACL, swatted 93 kills in 2009. Stahl led the team in service aces (48), while fellow returners Dykas, Popovic and Olson continued to show great promise and improvement from match to match.

The Panthers have a challenging conference schedule that includes matchups with rival Sage, St. Joseph’s-LI, NYU-POLY and Bard.  

-Bobby Ciafardini, SID

2010 Recaps: Coming Soon

2010 News: Coming Soon