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Posting Up - Scoreboard - Top 25 - Features - Notables - Team of the Week - Live Audio |
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A look at the upcoming season 2001-02 season |
Notables Nov 3: RMC knocks off American in exhibitionNov 2: Men in red hope to take next step Oct 29: Petrel men look to take '10 by storm |
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King's King's will be led by senior forward Fran Monte, a second-team Freedom Conference choice a year ago, who averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 rebounds. Sophomore guard Tiffini Varrasse is also back after averaging 10.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Junior off-guard Nikki Kingston also returns after adding 10.3 points and 5.2 boards. Last year, King's bench players took turns at playing hero roles and are again expected to make lofty contributions this season. Hard-nosed junior guard Katie Bowes returns as a top reserve and averaged 4.8 points a year ago. Other key returnees who provided key contributions include junior forwards Carissa Ryan and Jen Wozniak, along with junior center April Tanner. Sophomore forward Jennie Orelli, a solid three-point shooter, is expected to challenge for major minutes at the three-spot while fellow sophomore forward Heather Roback looks to earn increased time as well. A promising freshmen class is also cause for promise, led by 6-1 center Kristin Yeasted of Reading Holy Name. The Berks County "Player of the Year" led Holy Name to the Pennsylvania Class "AA" state semi-finals. Freshman Katie Lala, 5'10" guard/forward, is a tough, physical player who will compete for time after helping guide West Windsor-Plainsboro to the Central Jersey Group 4 championship game. Fellow rookie Marcy DeSio, a 5'10" small forward, will help King's outside shooting game as she drained 189 three-pointers, including 66 as a senior at Curtis High School. Point-guard Lauren Bonanni will also push for time a capable back-up. "We have excellent experience in the back court and our guard rotation will be the strength of our team," King's coach Bryan Whitten stated. "We have some decent experience inside as well as we only lost one post player from last season. We had some young players step up for us at different times last year and this season it will be important for them to realize they have to make a bigger impact. Our freshmen have some real promise and I feel Kristin Yeasted can develop into an outstanding player at this level. Lala is a tough, athletic player who can play inside and outside, while Marcy probably has the best range of any shooter I have had here." Messiah Messiah has gone from being good and young to seasoned as they return five seniors, three juniors and three sophomores from last season. The loss of Amy Hitz and Kate Butler in the low post will be felt and must be filled in some way to achieve the success of a year ago. Four starters return for Coach Mike Miller (224-147, 16th season) including MAC Commonwealth Conference MVP Christina Vouriotis. Vouriotis, a junior, led the team in scoring (16.9 ppg), rebounding (6.7 rpg) and free thow percentage (.843, 161-191). Erin Wedemeyer returns at the point after developing into one of the Falcon's gutsiest performers during last season's championship run. Senior Jess Mulberger can fill up all the boxes on the stat sheet as this versatile player can play at the guard or lowpost position. Junior Amie Kretzing is back at the two guard spot averaging 11 points a game last winter. Besides the returning starters, five other players return to challenge for starting roles and provide great depth off the bench. Senior Leanne Broffe can play at the guard or forward position while senior Melissa Ehst can also fill both roles and is a threat from behind the arc. Junior forward Heidi Marks can play anywhere on the court and brings a great energy into the game. Jess Unick, injured much of last season as a freshman, is a great rebounder and scorer and will challenge for a starting role. Sophomore guards Amy Murray and Anna Feeney continue to develop and will add great depth to the Messiah backcourt. New players who will contend for playing time are guards Lane Kieffer, Maria Rydell, and Kristen Sassaman. Delaware
Valley The team set a school record with 11 consecutive victories to begin the season. They were ranked regionally all year and produced the program's first All-American in point guard Alisa DiBonaventura. DiBonaventura has graduated and is a member of the coaching staff. However, the cupboard is not bare for head coach Laura Hogan as the remaining four starters from the end of last season are back along with two other letterwinners and a solid recruiting class. Topping the list of returnees for Delaware Valley is senior forward Kristen Henry, who earned Freedom Conference second team all-star honors a year ago. Henry averaged a team-high 16.2 points per game and was second in rebounding with 6.1 boards per contest. She enters her final campaign with 1,101 career points and within range of second place (1,413 points by Hogan) on the school's all-time list. Fellow senior Lauren Snyder is back after averaging 10.3 points and a team-best 8.5 rebounds per game. The 5-7 guard/forward has led the Aggies in rebounding in each of her three years and her total of 716 boards is just 43 shy of the school's all-time mark. Snyder is also 150 points away from becoming the sixth player in program history to hit the 1,000-point plateau. Junior Amber Smolinsky earned the starting nod down the stretch last season and the explosive guard scored 68 points in the three playoff games. She averaged 13 points an outing last year and will see more playing time — including at point guard — in 2001-02. Sarah Tuffner is
back after a productive rookie campaign. The 6-3 Tuffner led the way with
52 blocks and also added 2.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Hogan's recruiting class is headed by Bridget Golden, a 6-2 forward/center who was a two-time, first team all-academy player in high school. Melissa Martinez was a four-time all-league selection in high school and will see playing time for Delaware Valley at the point guard position. Albright With 13 people on the bench, Bonner feels she will have the ability to mix and match her lineup, without the team missing a beat. She believes that no one player will be playing in excess of 35 minutes a game, allowing the team to be fresh. Four of her returning players will be looked upon to provide leadership for this young squad. Junior forward Anne Dougherty, junior guard Amy Buzinski, along with sophomore center Lauren Finnigan and sophomore guard Laura Tangradi will be the key pieces to the puzzle. Finnigan led the team last season with 16.9 points per game, to go along with 9.7 rebounds per contest, which earned her second team All-Conference honors. Buzinski received MAC All-Academic honors as she averaged 8.3 points per game, to go along with 5.7 rebounds a game, in addition to a 3.46 GPA. Dougherty also had a successful 2000-01 campaign as she averaged 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Tangradi led the team in three point shooting (53 of 169) and foul shooting (31 of 34). She averaged 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Senior center Bridget Walsh and junior center Colleen Kearns will also provide experience, and key minutes off the bench. As for the newcomers, Bonner has a talented group of freshmen that will contribute immediately. Freshman point guards Maura Buzad and Cassandra Walker will see significant time on the floor. Also watch for guard Brandie Engler, guard Calista Walker, center Stephanie Moore, forward Meaghan Connor and forward Julie Horton to see time for the Lions. The Commonwealth Conference of the MAC is one of the most powerful in Division III. You only have to look at last year's standings and results to find out why. Even though Messiah finished second, they advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Game. Once again, the Falcons are picked to finish at the top, along with Susquehanna and Juniata. But, with talent and youth, Albright will make a run to get one of the four championship spots in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs. In addition, the Lions will also set a solid foundation for years to come. |
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