2011 Volleyball Season Outlook
BRYN MAWR, Pa. – The Bryn Mawr College volleyball team and head coach Joan Braid enter the 2011 season with high hopes following a promising 2010 campaign. The Owls are coming off an 11-12 overall and 4-6 Centennial Conference record that saw Bryn Mawr one place out of the 2010 CC tournament. The four conference wins were the most since 1999 when the Owls were coached by former standout Karen Lewis.
Head Coach Joan Braid says, this should be an exciting year for the team. We’re coming off a great 2010 season and we are looking forward to a challenging schedule in the 2011 campaign.
The Owls will return seven players from last year’s roster, including the senior, middle tandem of Katie Merrill and Mikecia Witherspoon. Senior setter Emily Takeuchi-Miller will continue to dish out the sets, while junior Hannah Rosebrock should prove to be another force in the front –line attack. Back for their sophomore campaigns, Miranda McDevitt, Jackie Handy and Shannon Murphy will help Bryn Mawr with the experience they gained last season.
Monitoring the front-line attack this season will be Merrill and Witherspoon. Named to the 2nd Team All-CC, Merrill paced the Owls with 257 kills (3.38 kps), 65 total blocks (35 block solos), and 26 service aces. She also boasted a team-high 303 digs in 76 sets. Witherspoon was right behind Merrill in all statistical categories including kills (215), digs (181), total blocks (64) and aces (15). For her hard-work on the hardwood, the 2010 season ended with Honorable Mention honors for Witherspoon from the conference’s coaches.
Takeuchi-Miller returns for her fourth-year after dishing-out a team-best 297 assists. She also recorded 140 digs and 27 service aces. In the 2010 season Rosebrocktallied 59 kills and 11 total blocks from the outside.
Bryn Mawr will start preseason with eight newcomers to the team. Upperclassmen Vaughan Higgins, Victoria Peltonen, and Courtney Pinerton will join freshman Ellen Chiu, Lauren Melvin, Danielle Preziuso and Avary Taylor all vying for a spot on the team.
The Owls kick off the 2011 season when they travel to Delaware Valley on Saturday, Sept. 3. Match time is set for 11:00 am.
CLICK HERE for the complete 2011 Bryn Mawr College volleyball schedule