08-29-01

Volleyball Opens at Courtland State Tournament

The Penn State Behrend volleyball will travel to Cortland State Tournament for their 2001 opener on Friday, August 31, and Saturday September 1.  Penn State Behrend is in Pool C with Geneseo and St. Lawrence.  Last season the team went 3-1 in the tournament.

The volleyball program is regrouping under the direction of recently hired head coach Kellie Diehl. "We are excited about the prospects of the upcoming season," said Diehl. "The returning players will provide experience early, but the freshman class will push for playing time." Last year the netters finished with a 15-13 overall record and played in the AMCC finals.

Leading the Behrend Lions onto the court of competition will be senior co-captains Brianne Engelbert (Meadville/Meadville) and Sarah Peterson (Grove City/Grove City). Engelbert totaled 170 kills and 325 digs last season, while Peterson looks to bounce back from an injury plagued 2000, after being selected by her teammates as the team's most improved player as a sophomore.  

Also returning will be a key pair of juniors. Danielle Bemis (Corry/Corry) and Rose Boni (Ridgway/Ridgway). Bemis, an outside-hitter, earned 247 kills and 423 digs last year and was awarded the Newcomer of the Year title from the conference coaches. Boni is a defensive specialist and played in 27 matches while working for 235 digs. Both players will be expected to make a big contribution to this year's squad. 

In addition, sophomore middle-hitter Katie Butler (Benezette/Elk County Christian), Jessica Niedermeyer (Conneautville/Conneautville), and Lauren Senkevich (Hopewell/Hopewell) are back for another season. Butler will work for more court time this year, while Niedermeyer, an all-conference performer last season, and Senkevich played in all 28 matches in 2000, and tallied 222 and 151 kills respectively.  

Incoming freshmen adding support for coach Diehl include: Kelly Cozad (Conneautville/Conneautville), Kyra Durinsky (Hopewell/Hopewell), Trish Krantz (Grove City/Grove City), Elizabeth Lorenz (Millertown/Williamson), Ashley Ordy (Butler/Butler), and Emily Waters (Erie/Villa).

The blue and white will play twelve conference matches along with a top-notch road tournament at Carnegie Mellon.  The Behrend Lions are also looking forward to their home tournament on September 14-15 in the Junker Center. 

Back to Volleyball News Index

Web site contact: prb3@psu.edu
Updated July 18, 2005
© 2005 The Pennsylvania State University