VOLLEYBALL HEADS INTO 2007 SEASON WITH HIGH HOPES
AUGUST 31, 2007
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y.- With a roster consisting of six upperclassmen and four underclassmen, this season the Panthers look to increase their win total from last year's 23-15 record. Whitney Alexander will be one of five seniors to lead the Old Westbury's Women's Volleyball team in 2007. Alexander has been part of the Coach Segers era, raising the bar for Old Westbury Women's Volleyball and now will hope to leave the program with a conference championship.
Alexander returns to the Panthers to carry the load left by eight seniors. She led the Panthers last season with an average of 2.21 kills per game average and ranked third in the team with 221 total kills. Her 41 service aces, ranked fourth on the team, in front of Monique Midy, who landed 40 throughout the season. Old Westbury returns an attack that accounted for 70-of-117 blocks. Janera Johnson will look to increase her 31 block total from last season which ranked her second on the team falling short to Jennifer Hoyt's 37 blocks.
Rounding out the seniors are Katora Russell, Colleen Smith and Sheyra Veras, who will be counted on for experience and leadership for the upcoming freshman and sophomore class. Colleen Smith will bring experience on the defensive end, after compiling 141 digs in her junior year. Leading the sophomore class is Lauren Fischetti, who ranked third on the team with an average of 2.04 digs per game and totaled 159 digs over the course of the season. Sophomore L'oreal Ellington will take advantage of being mentored by these outstanding seniors as well as looking to her underclassmen for support and guidance for this coming season.
With the departure of All-Skyline Second Team selection, Jennifer Ragone, freshman Siobhan West will be heavily relied on for her setting abilities. West, will be inserted into the starting lineup immediately, as she is Coach Segers' best option at the setter and will carry that position throughout her time at Old Westbury. Rounding out the freshman class is, Shalyn Molnar, who will be working behind West at the setter position.
Old Westbury opens the season by hosting a tri-match on Saturday, Sept. 1 at the Clark Athletic Center. The Panther's will take on the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and John Jay on Saturday, September 1st and will then travel to Ramapo College for the NJAC/Skyline Cross Over on Sunday, September 2nd. The Panthers return home for the third annual Old Westbury Panther Invitational on September 8th and 9th. Old Westbury will be welcoming Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Baruch College, Montclair State, Ramapo College and Farmingdale State for the two day competition extravaganza. The Panthers will then travel to York College for a non-conference match on September 12th, and will cap off the week at home for a tri-match with Suffolk-Brentwood and the College of Staten Island. Other non-conference matches include a visit from Hunter College on October 10th, a tri-match with Sarah Lawrewnce and Southern Vermont on October 27th and will conclude the regular season by saying farewells to the senior's on their special night against the College of Saint Elizabeth on Octber 30th. The non-confernece schedule on the road includes Manhattanville on September 20th, Weselyan Tournament at Wesleyan University on Septemeber 28th and 29th, the Ramapo Tournament in Mahwah, New Jersey on October 5th and 6th. Old Westbury will conclude their road schedule with Lehman College on October 18th and will head to St. Joseph's College (LI) for the Sklyine/CUNY Challenge on October 20th.
For the past two seasons, Old Westbury has raised the bar and will be competing for a Skyline Conference title. With a pre-season ranking of second in the conference, the Panthers travel to Mount Saint Vincent for a match-up with both Maritime College and Mount Saint Vincent on September 22nd to open conference play. On October 3rd, Old Westbury will travel to St. Joseph's College (LI) for a conference showdown. The following week, the Panthers will travel to welcome conference newcomer, Purchase College for a tri-match with Purchase and Bard College on October 13th. Old Westbury will look to capitalize on their home schedule, as they will conclude their regular season with their final six matches at the Clark Athletic Center. Mount Saint Mary and Russell Sage will arrive on the campus of SUNY Old Westbury for a conference tri-match on October 21st, followed by the second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game against Farmingdale State on October 23rd to close out the conference schedule.