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Duo of Talented Outside Hitters to lead Keuka Volleyball in ‘09
August 17, 2009
Senior Holly McHale (left) and junior Raelle Naegely will lead the Storm in '09.
The Keuka volleyball team posted a 16-14 overall record and a 4-2 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) mark last season, but a much more experienced group will take the floor for Keuka this season.
“We are a team made up of a strong senior and junior class. They have a lot of game experience,” says Head Coach Alena Krug.
Krug will rely heavily on a pair of talented outside hitters: senior Holly McHale (Carthage, N.Y./Jefferson CC) and junior Raelle Naegely (Colorado Springs, CO/Pine Creek).
“They are both seasoned veterans who will lead the team in all defensive and offensive play,” stated Krug.
The two outside hitters enjoyed solid seasons a year ago, with McHale being named to the All-NEAC first team and Naegely to the second team. McHale was second on the team with 166 kills for an average of 1.71 while leading Keuka in digs with 286 (2.95 per contest). Standing at 5-10, McHale was also one of the Storm’s top servers with 34 aces, third on the team, and adding 26 blocks. Naegely, also 5-10, led the team with 249 kills (2.57) while attempting a team-high 818 total attacks. She was third on the team in both digs (159) and blocking (41) while serving up 27 aces.
Among the other returnees is junior outside hitter Sarah Fredricks (Milton, Ontario/E.C. Drury). Fredricks killed 78 balls (fourth on team) to go with her 30 blocks a season ago. Classmate and fellow outside hitter Morgan Engelbert (Elmira Heights, N.Y./Thomas Edison) also returns after crushing 46 kills.
Also returning at the outside hitting position will be sophomore Kandace Scharles (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua), who had 65 kills and 40 blocks, and senior Jessica Volz (Dewitt, N.Y./Jamesville-Dewitt).
The middle hitter position will remain junior Heather Fish’s (Newfield, N.Y./Newfield) and sophomore Emily Hargrave’s (Honeoye, N.Y./Honeoye) territory. Fish finished with 77 kills and a team-high 87 blocks a season ago. Hargrave was third on the team with 88 kills while leading the team with 45 aces and finishing second in blocking (78). Sophomore Rachel Perry (Nicholas, N.Y./Tioga), who recorded 12 kills, will also vie for playing time in the middle.
All-NEAC third team selection Katy Geers (Fulton, N.Y./G. Ray Bodley) will run the offense. The junior setter finished with 190 assists and 113 digs. Sophomore Hannah Doody (Tully, N.Y./Tully) should see a lot more playing time there as well.
A pair of newcomers should make an immediate impact for the Storm. Transfer Cory Thornton (Corning Community College) will play outside as well as libero for the Storm and brings great ball control as well as excellent hitting ability. Rookie setter Demi Kauppinenwill team with Geers in running the offense.
“She can run a lot of sets and is fast on defense,” states Krug.
Keuka will open with a home contest against Ithaca College Sept. 1 and will then play in the D’Youville College Invitational (Sept. 4-5) and Colorado College Invitational (Sept. 11-12).
The Storm’s first NEAC game will come in the form of a home tri-match against new conference members SUNY Morrisville and Penn State-Abington Sept. 19.
Krug and the Storm have their sights set on the NEAC championship.
“Our goal is and has always remained the same,” said Krug. “We want the conference title.”
