August 5, 2011

Coaches Select Penn St.-Altoona To Win AMCC Title

Penn St. Altoona is primed to capture their second AMCC championship in 2011, according to the AMCC coaches' preseason poll. The Lions last won in 2005. Two-time AMCC champion Penn State Behrend is picked to finish second, followed by defending champion Pitt-Bradford, ranked third.

Penn St. Altoona will be led by outside hitter Samantha Link, the coaches' pick for Preseason Player of the Year. The senior was a first team all-conference selection last season, averaging 2.93 kpg (361 total), along with contributing 419 digs, 37 aces, 17 assists, and 15 blocks.
The AMCC kicks off conference play on Saturday, September 24, and the championship will be Saturday, November 5, hosted by the number #1 seed. The winner will receive the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

AMCC VOLLEYBALL POLL
2011 Preseason Rankings*

1.) Penn State Altoona (2)
2.) Penn State Behrend (3)
3.) Pitt-Bradford (1)
4.) Medaille (5)
5.) Franciscan (4)
6.) Pitt-Greensburg (6)
7.) Mount Aloysius (7)
8.) Hilbert (8)
9.) D'Youville (10)
10.) La Roche (9)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2010

Preseason Player of the Year
SAMANTHA LINK
Penn State Altoona

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH...

D'YOUVILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Melissa Ginnitti (2nd year) 2010: 0-9 AMCC, 8-20 overall
Junior MH Luciana Payne (Buffalo, NY/Mount Saint Mary Academy)...The Spartans' MVP in 2010...named to all-tournament teams at Penn State Behrend and Oswego...last season racked up 299 kills (2.99 kps), 42 blocks and 44 aces.
FRANCSICAN UNIVERSITY Head Coach Kelly Herrmann (8th year) 2010: 6-3 AMCC, 14-15 overall
Junior OH Meg Kay (Perrysburg, OH/Perrysburg)...First team all-conference in 2010, leading the AMCC with 3.72 kps...named to Baldwin Wallace all-tournament team...selected as team MVP...3.7 GPA as nursing major. Junior MH Marie Anna Cain (Williamsburg, IA/Homeschool)...Third team all-conference...ranked in numerous AMCC categories last season, including 5^th in hitting % (.289), 4^th in kills/set (2.89) and 4^th in aces/set (.5).
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach Amanda Logue (3rd year) 2010: 2-7 AMCC, 6-18 overall
Sophomore S Shannon Memminger (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home)...Ranked #4 in the conference as a freshman with 5.47 aps (443 total) and #2 with .49 aces (40 total). Sophomore OH Chelsea Reischuck (East Aurora NY/East Aurora)...Led the Hawks with 2.28 kps (185 total) and ranked second on the team with 159 digs.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach Megan Snyder (6th year) 2010: 1-8 AMCC, 5-17 overall
Sophomore OH Shawn Neiswonger (Bethlehem PA/Red Bank Valley)...Averaged 2.47 kps with a .274 hitting % to lead the team...also recorded 23 blocks (.29 bps). Junior L/OH Shelby Weber (Kennett Square, PA)...Averaged 1.48 kps along with 1.92 dps and 35 service aces.
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Jacob Beiter (4th year) 2010: 5-4 AMCC, 18-16 overall
Junior OH Meghan Fahy (Kendall, NY/Kendall)...Second team all-conference in 2010...hit .270 for the year, with 309 kills, 46 aces, 43 blocks...most improved player for the Mavs. Sophomore L Carrie Chiro (Mayfield Heights, NY/Mayfield)...Last season contributed a team-high 3.14 digs/set (352 total digs) along with 40 aces.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Coach Brianna Baker (4th year) 2010: 3-6 AMCC, 7-17 overall
Junior OH Chelsea Perehinec (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle)...Voted team MVP last season...recorded 3.39 dps and 1.25 kps. Sophomore MH Mariah McDowell (Morrisdale, PA/West Branch)...Third team all-conference in 2010...named to the all-tournament team at Virginia Wesleyan...averaged 2.68 kps.
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach Phil Peterman (4th year) 2010: 8-1 AMCC, 23-12 overall
Senior OH Samantha Link (Ebensburg, PA/Central Cambria)...First team all-conference team...recorded 361 kills (2/93 kps), 419 digs, 37 aces, 17 assists, and 15 blocks...voted team MVP. Senior S Kelsie Bumbarger (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area)...Second team all-conference selection...posted 990 assists (7.98 aps) to rank second in the AMCC...also had 401 digs, 64 kills, 37 aces, and 13 blocks...standout in the classroom with a 3.90 GPA.
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Phil Pisano (8th year) 2010: 7-2 AMCC, 19-12 overall
Junior OH Mary Sperry (Conneaut Lake, PA/Conneaut Lake)...Second team all-conference selection in 2010...led team in kills (258), and was second in digs (393) and aces (43)...2-year starter and 2-time all-conference selection. Senior OH/L Stefanie Kelley (Moon Twp., PA/Moon Area)...Ranked third on team last season in digs (380), kills (190), and aces (41)...3-year starter who ranks third all-time in digs with 1,103 heading into senior season.
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Tina Phillips (9th year) 2010: 9-0 AMCC, 24-4 overall
Senior OH Meaghan Lindquist (Kane, PA/Kane)...Second team All-AMCC in 2010...ranked third on team with 2.07 kps and 29 blocks...third in AMCC in hitting percentage (288)...also recorded 64 digs. Junior MH Maggie Johnson (Hilton, NY/Hilton)...All-AMCC third team for second straight season...ranked fourth on team in kills with 191 (2.01 kps). second in blocks with 41...ranked fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.280).
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Leroy Simms (9th year) 2010: 4-5 AMCC, 5-18 overall
Senior OH Kourtney Laratonda (East Freedom, PA/Central)...Team's leading hitter in 2010 with 165 kills (1.94 kps)...ranked #2 in digs with 129 (1.52 dps). Sophomore MB Jaime Barkman (Aliquippa, PA/Hopewell)...Ranked #1 on the team in blocks (45) and #2 with 109 kills (1.54 kps).