Women's Volleyball To Host Blazer Challenge, Friday And Saturday

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2010 Blazer Challenge Schedule

Friday, September 3 - 4:00 p.m.
Husson University vs. Elms College (Court 1)
SUNY Cobleskill vs. Mass. Maritime (Court 2)

Friday, September 3 - 6:00 p.m.
SUNY Cobleskill vs. Elms College (Court 1)
Mass. Maritime vs. Husson University (Court 2)

Saturday, September 4 - 11:00 a.m.
Husson University vs. SUNY Cobleskill

Saturday, September 4 - 1:00 p.m.
Mass. Maritime vs. Elms College

Scouting the Elms College Blazers
The Elms College Blazers start their 2010 campaign hosting its four-team Blazer Challenge round robin tournament at Picknelly Arena in Chicopee, Mass. In 2009, Elms won five of its final six matches and garnered the fourth seed in the New England Collegiate Conference tournament before falling in the semifinal contest. Junior outside hitter Stacy Croteau (Agawam, Mass.) earned First Team All-NECC honors, while senior Melissa Clark (Chicopee, Mass.) was named to the second team. For third-year head coach Sheila Gisbrecht, strength and experience is centered in the squad's outside hitters. Anchored by Croteau, a two-time First Team All-NECC selection and the program's third all-time leader in kills, the Blazers will look to utilize two other veterans and a pair of newcomers to pace the offense.

Scouting the Husson University Eagles
Husson enters the 2010 season after finishing second in the 2009 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship tournament, falling short to Maine Maritime Academy in the finals. The Eagles posted a 14-15 overall record and were 6-1 in league play last season. Husson was recently tabbed to finish second in the NAC preseason poll and will look to two-time all-conference selection and 2008 NAC Rookie of the Year middle hitter Kaitlyn McKay (Lincoln, R.I.) to pace the Eagles this season. McKay led the squad in kills (211), digs (256) and total blocks (57) during Husson's run to the NAC title match a year ago.

Scouting the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buccaneers
The 2010 Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buccaneers opened its season on Wednesday, Sept. 1 with a 3-0 loss to the Coast Guard Academy at Buzzards Bay, Mass. The Buccaneers were led by middle hitter Suzanne Marino (Kings Park, N.Y.) and outside hitter Kelly Lyons (Pocasset, Mass.) who downed three kills each and setter Joanne Robery (Plainville, Mass.) who dished out 15 assists in the losing effort. Marino and Lyons combined for 10 of the squad's 22 digs, notching six and four respectively, while Allison Condino (Fitchburg, Mass.) added four digs. The Buccaneers will look to rebound at this weekend's Blazer Challenge.

Scouting the SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers
The Fighting Tigers opened their 2010 campaign with a home match against Green Mountain College on Thursday, Sept. 2. After finishing last season with a 13-14 overall record, SUNY Cobleskill will look to fill a void left by its departed veterans. Outside hitter Maggie Trombly (Chateaugay, N.Y.) returns to the lineup after averaging 2.01 digs and 1.56 kills per set last season. Libero/setter Krista Grady (Schenectady, N.Y.) averaged 2.26 digs per set and downed 10 service aces last year, while libero Nancy Stephens (Warnerville, N.Y.) averaged 1.73 digs per set and served up 13 aces in 2009. These three returners will be at the center of what SUNY Cobleskill hopes to accomplish this season both offensively in the serving game, and defensively with its digging.