ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst College head women’s volleyball coach
Ryan Patton has announced the addition of seven signees for the 2010 season.
“After focusing on recruiting ball control last year, our priority this year was to get more physical,” said Patton. “I think we attracted a class that fits that bill and in time could be extremely physical. Our program has made some good progress and experienced enough success over the past several years to believe that there are some very good days ahead. This group we have coming in should keep us moving in the right direction and achieving more and more.”
“Once again, Jenell Patton, our recruiting coordinator deserves a load of credit for the way this class came together. Her time, energy, and attention to detail paid off in a big way.”
Headlining the class is Sarah Vick, a 6-foot-1 inch middle blocker from Bay Village, Ohio. Patton projects Vick, a versatile and athletic multi-sport athlete at Bay High School, to be the cornerstone of the freshman class and to provide an immediate impact.
The Lakers welcome the class in addition to a lineup that features 15 returners who helped Mercyhurst to its second consecutive 20-win season and appearance in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
Mercyhurst finished the season with a 20-13 overall mark and an 11-8 record in PSAC West play.
The Lakers open their 40th season of varsity competition on September 3-4 at the Ferris State Tournament. After its second-straight road tournament at Indiana (Pa.) on September 10-11, Mercyhurst returns for the home-opener on Sept. 14 against Notre Dame College.
The following are capsules on each of the 2010 additions:
Chelsea Bollenbacher (6-2, OPP, Weston, Ohio/Otsego)
Coach Patton on Bollenbacher:
“Chelsea is a nice, long player who comes with the experience of a good level of club ball. She has size that isn’t found very often at the outside hitter positions in our conference and with physical maturity I think she is quite a high-end prospect.”
Veronica Crosby (6-0, MB , North Tonawanda, N.Y./Starpoint)
Coach Patton on Crosby:
“I don’t know if I noticed Roni’s athletic ability or her personality first, but she had me at hello. I’ve seen her mostly as a middle hitter and that is where she’ll begin her career here, but she has some traits that make me think she could make an impact at a number of positions.”
Emily Kainer (5-9, OH, Chicago, Illinois)
Coach Patton on Kainer:
“Coming from Chicago, Emily has had the chance to face some of the best athletes and teams in the country as a club and high school player. This experience should have her well prepared to develop as a college volleyball player.”
Kendra Kowalski (5-4, S , Corry, Pa./Corry/Mercyhurst North East)
Coach Patton on Kowalski:
“Kendra is the first player in my tenure to come from the Mercyhurst North East campus. She showed a fantastic attitude, tough serve and nice potential in a tryout, and for all of those reasons I’m happy to have her on the team.”
Kelsi Romatowski (5-11, OPP , Findlay, Ohio/Findlay)
Coach Patton on Romantowski:
“Kelsi missed her senior high school season recovering from an injury, but will arrive healthy for us in August. She has a body frame and the volleyball ability that make her quite exciting to add to our team and I think she was a steal in this class.”
Nicole Texido (5-6, DS , Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster)
Coach Patton on Texido:
“While watching Nicole play as an undersized hitter for the past two years, I kept finding myself say ‘she can really play the game’. She’ll be able to focus as a defensive player here and with that focus I suspect she could make a big impact sooner rather than later.”
Sarah Vick (6-1, MB, Bay Village, Ohio/Bay)
Coach Patton on Vick:
“We’re very happy to get Sarah into our program. She is quite a gifted athlete who perhaps flew under the radar because she was a multi-sport athlete instead of a full-time volleyball player. She is someone who is going to impact our team right away and for four years.”