2010 Volleyball Team Preview
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - After surprising the Centennial Conference with a fourth-place finish and its first ever playoff victory and ECAC playoff appearance last season, expectations are high for the Swarthmore College volleyball team in 2010, as the Garnet return two all-conference performers while setting sights on even bigger goals for the upcoming season.
Although the Garnet will miss the leadership of departed seniors Kearney Bangs '10 and Johanna Bond '10, the returning core of talent puts the Garnet in a strong position to compete at the top of the Centennial Conference. Beginning her ninth season, reigning Centennial Conference Coach of the Year Harleigh Chwastyk will enter the year with one of the most talented squads of her tenure, as the Garnet are one of just three Centennial teams to return multiple all-conference performers.
The returning all-Conference performers that have Garnet fans excited are junior Genny Pezzola - whose breakout 2009 season saw her set the Swarthmore College single season program record with 404 kills - and sophomore Kat Montemurro. The duo, who combined for 684 kills last year, will once again lead the Garnet's explosive attack, which ranked second in the Conference with 12.44 kills per game last season. Combining with sophomore setter Allie Coleman (left) whose 556 assists as a freshman put her sixth in program history for career assists, the trio will form one of the strongest attacks in the Centennial Conference. Lone-senior Sarah Lambert and Hillary Santana '12 will also make significant contributions up front as well as with their lethal serves.
Though the Garnet is not among the tallest teams in the Centennial Conference, the team's ability to dig makes Swarthmore a very dangerous defensive team. Pezzola led the Garnet with 440 digs last season, and through her first two years, is the team's all-time leader in digs per set at 4.19. Libero Lisa Shang '12 also had a big year in 2009, and is second on the team with 583 career digs. Adding in Montemurro, Coleman, Santana, and Jackie Morgen '13, and the Garnet will be tough to score on in 2010.
Newcomer to the squad include freshmen Maggie Duszyk, Brone Lobichusky and Danielle Sullivan. The trio bring height, depth and playing experience to the Garnet's returning core.
The Garnet open home play against Widener on Tuesday, September 7, before hosting the annual Garnet Classic Sept. 10-11. Out of conference, the Garnet's schedule is highlighted by a fall break trip to the California Lutheran Fall Classic. This tournament will be a great test for the Garnet against strong West Coast competition in the middle of Centennial Conference play; California Lutheran finished just outside of the Top 25 in the final poll last season. Also highlighting the Garnet schedule will be the annual "Dig for the Cure" contest on October 2 against McDaniel - since 2006, the Centennial Conference has raised over $37,000 for breast cancer research. Senior Day will be Saturday, October 23 against Gettysburg, while the Garnet will host four-time defending Conference Champion Haverford on October 27th from Tarble Pavilion.