Friday, August 30
Davidson, N.C.
7 p.m.
Davidson College Athletics
vs
Charlotte
Volleyball to Host Wildcat Classic to Start 2013
8/29/2013 12:29:00 PM | Volleyball
Live Stats | Live Video (please not e- only Davidson vs. CSU-B and Davidson vs. CSU will be broadcast)
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Davidson volleyball team will dive right into the 2013 season with the Wildcat Classic, a three-team, six-game tournament held at Belk Arena Friday and Saturday. The 'Cats will play their first game vs. Charlotte at 7 p.m. Friday, before taking on CSU Bakersfield (Saturday, 1 p.m.) and Charleston Southern (Saturday, 5 p.m.).
The team will celebrate Super Hero Day during Friday's match. Free t-shirts will be given to the first 100 fans, while free schedule posters will be given to the first 150 fans, who will have a chance to get them signed during a post-game autograph session. Fans dressed as superheroes will be entered to win six free months of Netflix.
Click here to get to know the Davidson volleyball team.
OUTLOOK
Despite losing a pair of players who rank in the all-time top ten in Davidson history, head coach Chris Willis and assistant Emily Carrara expect big things of the 2013 volleyball team. A senior-heavy make up, along with other improving veterans and a freshman duo expected to see solid playing time will serve the Wildcats well as they embark on their final year in the Southern Conference.
SETTER
Former Wildcat Ariel Ley left a pair of pretty big shoes to fill after finishing her career ranked in the all-time top 10 in assists. However, a solid competition by the remaining underclassmen has given the Wildcats some options.
Freshman Mikayla Derochie turned heads in preseason action, seeing a bulk of the action at setter this preseason. The California native averaged 11.8 assists per set as a senior at Ramona HS, earning team MVP honors. Sophomore Gaylen Fronk may have seen limited time as a freshman, but has grown greatly in the offseason. She is also in competition for playing time.
OUTSIDE HITTER
An experienced group of outside hitters is expected to lead the way for the Wildcats, led by Preseason All-SoCon selection Caroline Brown. Brown, who earned second-team honors in 2012, led the squad in kills with 3.57 per set and was second in digs with 3.89 per set.
Senior Megan Chamberlin and junior Rachel Earnhardt provide plenty of depth at the position. Chamberlin averaged just under two kills per set and was one of the team's serving leaders last season with 26 aces. Earnhardt saw action in 71 sets as a sophomore, starting 10 on the season.
Sophomore Hannah Rau, who can also serve as a middle blocker, made an immediate impact her freshman season, averaging just over a kill a set. She was also one of the squad's top blockers at 0.64 blocks per set.
MIDDLE HITTER
Tindall Sewell will headline this year's crop of middle hitters, two years removed from leading the NCAA in attacking percentage. Sewell led the Wildcats in 2012, finishing the year hitting .212. She was also a team leader in blocks and kills, ranking first and second in those categories, respectively.
She will be joined by newcomer Emily Franklin, who hit .595 at nearby Providence High School as a senior.
Opposite
Senior Taylor Pisel and Michelle McNeight combine for a strong one-two punch at opposite. Though Pisel is the more experienced of the two, playing in 84 sets while averaging 2.15 kills and 0.56 blocks per set. McNeight got her feet wet as a freshman, playing in 30 sets, and has shown growth in the offseason.
LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
The loss of the dependable Molly Crenshaw to graduation set in motion and offseason competition to fill the squad's libero spot. Anastasia Owen has pushed her way to the front of the pack, bringing with her plenty of game action as a defensive specialist after playing in 70 sets last season.
Sarah Roberts and Jenna Ptaschinski are expected to see action at defensive specialist this season as well. Ptaschinski has seen increased playing time each season, averaging 1.81 digs per set as a junior. Roberts saw limited action in her first two seasons, with 1.64 digs per set in 2012, but has impressed with her work ethic in the offseason.
SCHEDULE
The 'Cats start off the season with four straight tournaments, including the Wildcat Classic Aug. 30 and 31 featuring Charlotte, CSU Bakersfield and Charleston Southern. They open September in Dallas, Texas, at the SMU Invite where they will face Sam Houston State, Southern Methodist and Grambling State (Sept. 7-8).
Next up is a trip to Atlanta, Ga., to take on Buffalo, Georgia State and Central Florida at the GSU Invitational (Sept. 13-14) before a short trek to High Point, N.C., for tilts with Murray State, N.C. A&T and the host Panthers at the High Point Invitational.
A match up with Appalachian State on Sept. 27 starts the 'Cats final season of Southern Conference play. The Wildcat face the Mountaineers, Western Carolina, Elon, UNCG, Samford, Chattanooga, Furman and Wofford twice on the season as part of the home-and-home series. They will host the The Citadel (Nov. 8) and Georgia Southern (Nov. 9) in their lone meeting with each team.
In addition, the Wildcats will host Winthrop Oct. 1 in nonconference action before facing Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C., Oct. 8. The season will wrap up with the 'Cats final SoCon Tournament Nov. 23-25 in Greenville, S.C.
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Davidson volleyball team will dive right into the 2013 season with the Wildcat Classic, a three-team, six-game tournament held at Belk Arena Friday and Saturday. The 'Cats will play their first game vs. Charlotte at 7 p.m. Friday, before taking on CSU Bakersfield (Saturday, 1 p.m.) and Charleston Southern (Saturday, 5 p.m.).
The team will celebrate Super Hero Day during Friday's match. Free t-shirts will be given to the first 100 fans, while free schedule posters will be given to the first 150 fans, who will have a chance to get them signed during a post-game autograph session. Fans dressed as superheroes will be entered to win six free months of Netflix.
Click here to get to know the Davidson volleyball team.
OUTLOOK
Despite losing a pair of players who rank in the all-time top ten in Davidson history, head coach Chris Willis and assistant Emily Carrara expect big things of the 2013 volleyball team. A senior-heavy make up, along with other improving veterans and a freshman duo expected to see solid playing time will serve the Wildcats well as they embark on their final year in the Southern Conference.
SETTER
Former Wildcat Ariel Ley left a pair of pretty big shoes to fill after finishing her career ranked in the all-time top 10 in assists. However, a solid competition by the remaining underclassmen has given the Wildcats some options.
Freshman Mikayla Derochie turned heads in preseason action, seeing a bulk of the action at setter this preseason. The California native averaged 11.8 assists per set as a senior at Ramona HS, earning team MVP honors. Sophomore Gaylen Fronk may have seen limited time as a freshman, but has grown greatly in the offseason. She is also in competition for playing time.
OUTSIDE HITTER
An experienced group of outside hitters is expected to lead the way for the Wildcats, led by Preseason All-SoCon selection Caroline Brown. Brown, who earned second-team honors in 2012, led the squad in kills with 3.57 per set and was second in digs with 3.89 per set.
Senior Megan Chamberlin and junior Rachel Earnhardt provide plenty of depth at the position. Chamberlin averaged just under two kills per set and was one of the team's serving leaders last season with 26 aces. Earnhardt saw action in 71 sets as a sophomore, starting 10 on the season.
Sophomore Hannah Rau, who can also serve as a middle blocker, made an immediate impact her freshman season, averaging just over a kill a set. She was also one of the squad's top blockers at 0.64 blocks per set.
MIDDLE HITTER
Tindall Sewell will headline this year's crop of middle hitters, two years removed from leading the NCAA in attacking percentage. Sewell led the Wildcats in 2012, finishing the year hitting .212. She was also a team leader in blocks and kills, ranking first and second in those categories, respectively.
She will be joined by newcomer Emily Franklin, who hit .595 at nearby Providence High School as a senior.
Opposite
Senior Taylor Pisel and Michelle McNeight combine for a strong one-two punch at opposite. Though Pisel is the more experienced of the two, playing in 84 sets while averaging 2.15 kills and 0.56 blocks per set. McNeight got her feet wet as a freshman, playing in 30 sets, and has shown growth in the offseason.
LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
The loss of the dependable Molly Crenshaw to graduation set in motion and offseason competition to fill the squad's libero spot. Anastasia Owen has pushed her way to the front of the pack, bringing with her plenty of game action as a defensive specialist after playing in 70 sets last season.
Sarah Roberts and Jenna Ptaschinski are expected to see action at defensive specialist this season as well. Ptaschinski has seen increased playing time each season, averaging 1.81 digs per set as a junior. Roberts saw limited action in her first two seasons, with 1.64 digs per set in 2012, but has impressed with her work ethic in the offseason.
SCHEDULE
The 'Cats start off the season with four straight tournaments, including the Wildcat Classic Aug. 30 and 31 featuring Charlotte, CSU Bakersfield and Charleston Southern. They open September in Dallas, Texas, at the SMU Invite where they will face Sam Houston State, Southern Methodist and Grambling State (Sept. 7-8).
Next up is a trip to Atlanta, Ga., to take on Buffalo, Georgia State and Central Florida at the GSU Invitational (Sept. 13-14) before a short trek to High Point, N.C., for tilts with Murray State, N.C. A&T and the host Panthers at the High Point Invitational.
A match up with Appalachian State on Sept. 27 starts the 'Cats final season of Southern Conference play. The Wildcat face the Mountaineers, Western Carolina, Elon, UNCG, Samford, Chattanooga, Furman and Wofford twice on the season as part of the home-and-home series. They will host the The Citadel (Nov. 8) and Georgia Southern (Nov. 9) in their lone meeting with each team.
In addition, the Wildcats will host Winthrop Oct. 1 in nonconference action before facing Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C., Oct. 8. The season will wrap up with the 'Cats final SoCon Tournament Nov. 23-25 in Greenville, S.C.
Volleyball - Us vs. Everybody
Monday, January 30
Davidson Volleyball - Carpool Karaoke
Monday, January 23
2021 Volleyball Intro Video
Tuesday, June 28
Catching up with the 'Cats: Chris Willis
Tuesday, April 21
