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Ready or not the season opener is just around the corner as the Shockers head to University Park, PA to particpate in the Penn State Classic this coming weekend taking on Holy Cross at 4:00 pm CDT on Friday, Hofstra at Noon CDT on Saturday and host Penn State (#8 in the preseason national rankings) at 7:00 pm CDT on Saturday.
Holy Cross is coming off of an 8-21 season (7-9 in Patriot League play) and will playing under 1st year coach Kathleen Colpoys, a 2012 Holy Cross grad. Holy Cross had 2 seniors on last year's team. While those 2 seniors, a 6-2 MH and a 6-2 MB, were the two tallest Holy Cross players they were not amont the teams statistical leaders. This year's team has 6 juniors and 3 sophomores who saw significant playing time for Holy Cross. Holy Cross in not very big. Of these top 9 returning players they have a 6-1 MB and a 6-0 MH/OH, two 5-11 OH's. None of the other top 9 returning players are taller than 5-9. They have 1 incoming freshman OH who stands 6-0. Looks like Holy Cross probably ran a 6-2 last year and both of the setters are back this season as juniors. Whether or not the new coach will stick with a 6-2 attack is hard to say. Holy Cross is picked to finish 8th in the 9-team Patriot League.
Hofstra is coming off of a very good season as they finished 25-8 overall and 13-3 in the CAA tying James Madison for the CAA regular season title and then beating James Madison in the CAA tournament championship match. Hofstra lost at Nebarska in the 1st round of NCAA play. 4 of their top 9 players last season were seniors including their top 2 middles. However, perhaps an even bigger loss was the transfer to Iowa of their 2nd leading scorer, 5-9 Fr. OH Aisha Skinner out of Berlin, Germany. Hofstra's lineup has a heavy international flavor. Last year 9 players were european players and 2 were Puerto Ricans on a 15 players roster. This year 9 European players, 1 Puerto Rican and 1 Dominican are among the 16 players on the roster. Returning players include their leading scorer from a year ago in 6-0 Sr. OH Laura Masciullo out of Italy who averaged 3.67 kills per set last year as a junior and who is the preseason pick for CAA Player of the Year this year. Hofstra ran a 5-1 last year and 5-10 Sr. setter Luisa Sydlik out of Berlin, Germany returns to run the Hofstra offense. Last year Sydlik had 1,468 assists with the rest of the team only combining for 184 assists. 5-8 So. Maddie Appleton will return as the Hofstra Libero. Appleton averaged 4.02 digs per set last year. Hostra will probably look to 6-2 Jr. Sanne Maring, 6-2 Sarah Pierre and 6-5 Fr. Athina Dimitriadis to fill the departure of their middle blockers. Hofstra is picked to finish 2nd in the CAA this year behind James Madison.
I don't think I really need to say too much about Penn State. Clearly one of the elite volleyball programs in the country.
I'm thinking Holy Cross is a match the Shocks should win. Hofstra will be a challenge. Could go either way. This one may be the key match of the weekend. I don't think the Shocks are quite ready to take down a team like Penn State but it will be a great measuring stick for where they are. A 2-1 weekend would be great especially if the Shocks can play somewhat competitvely against Penn State. However, 1-2 is not out of the question. As I said Hofstra is probably the key match of the weekend. Losing to Penn State doesn't hurt a thing. A loss to Holy Cross would be not be good at all.
Holy Cross is coming off of an 8-21 season (7-9 in Patriot League play) and will playing under 1st year coach Kathleen Colpoys, a 2012 Holy Cross grad. Holy Cross had 2 seniors on last year's team. While those 2 seniors, a 6-2 MH and a 6-2 MB, were the two tallest Holy Cross players they were not amont the teams statistical leaders. This year's team has 6 juniors and 3 sophomores who saw significant playing time for Holy Cross. Holy Cross in not very big. Of these top 9 returning players they have a 6-1 MB and a 6-0 MH/OH, two 5-11 OH's. None of the other top 9 returning players are taller than 5-9. They have 1 incoming freshman OH who stands 6-0. Looks like Holy Cross probably ran a 6-2 last year and both of the setters are back this season as juniors. Whether or not the new coach will stick with a 6-2 attack is hard to say. Holy Cross is picked to finish 8th in the 9-team Patriot League.
Hofstra is coming off of a very good season as they finished 25-8 overall and 13-3 in the CAA tying James Madison for the CAA regular season title and then beating James Madison in the CAA tournament championship match. Hofstra lost at Nebarska in the 1st round of NCAA play. 4 of their top 9 players last season were seniors including their top 2 middles. However, perhaps an even bigger loss was the transfer to Iowa of their 2nd leading scorer, 5-9 Fr. OH Aisha Skinner out of Berlin, Germany. Hofstra's lineup has a heavy international flavor. Last year 9 players were european players and 2 were Puerto Ricans on a 15 players roster. This year 9 European players, 1 Puerto Rican and 1 Dominican are among the 16 players on the roster. Returning players include their leading scorer from a year ago in 6-0 Sr. OH Laura Masciullo out of Italy who averaged 3.67 kills per set last year as a junior and who is the preseason pick for CAA Player of the Year this year. Hofstra ran a 5-1 last year and 5-10 Sr. setter Luisa Sydlik out of Berlin, Germany returns to run the Hofstra offense. Last year Sydlik had 1,468 assists with the rest of the team only combining for 184 assists. 5-8 So. Maddie Appleton will return as the Hofstra Libero. Appleton averaged 4.02 digs per set last year. Hostra will probably look to 6-2 Jr. Sanne Maring, 6-2 Sarah Pierre and 6-5 Fr. Athina Dimitriadis to fill the departure of their middle blockers. Hofstra is picked to finish 2nd in the CAA this year behind James Madison.
I don't think I really need to say too much about Penn State. Clearly one of the elite volleyball programs in the country.
I'm thinking Holy Cross is a match the Shocks should win. Hofstra will be a challenge. Could go either way. This one may be the key match of the weekend. I don't think the Shocks are quite ready to take down a team like Penn State but it will be a great measuring stick for where they are. A 2-1 weekend would be great especially if the Shocks can play somewhat competitvely against Penn State. However, 1-2 is not out of the question. As I said Hofstra is probably the key match of the weekend. Losing to Penn State doesn't hurt a thing. A loss to Holy Cross would be not be good at all.
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