Due West, S.C. – Despite graduating seven players from last year's Western Division Conference Carolinas Championship Team, the Erskine Women's Volleyball Team (16-13, 13-3) has been voted to finish 3rd in the recent Conference Carolinas Pre-season Coaches' Poll.
Not since the return of women's volleyball as varsity sport in 2009 has there been this many new faces to the Erskine women's volleyball team. But do not expect Head Coach Heather Vahjen to lower her expectations for her remade squad. Even as a new program in 2009, Coach Vahjen guided her team to a winning record in conference and a trip to the conference tournament.
While the Fleet may be young with nine new players, including seven freshmen, Erskine does several key contributors from last year, most notably, 1st Team All-Conference honoree Caitlin Bullock (Lexington, SC, White Knoll High School) who was fifth in the conference in kills per set and seventh in kills overall. The Fleet also return sophomore middle hitter Kelly Sullivan (Wellington, FL, Wellington Community High School), who led the Fleet in service aces and blocks last season as well as senior defensive specialist Anna Butrym (West Columbia, SC, White Knoll High School), who has averaged close to two digs per set over the last two seasons. Junior setter Megan Johnson (Little River, SC, North Myrtle Beach High School) will now have an opportunity to see regular playing after 4-time all-conference honoree Larz Chabra's graduation.
To add more experience to the squad, Coach Vahjen brought in two experienced college players in this year's recruiting class in sophomore Catherine Hurt (Mt. Pleasant, SC, Wando High School) and junior Emily Kennington (Jefferson, SC).
The Fleet will also count heavily on their seven freshmen, especially on the front row. Campbell A.J. (Pilot Point, TX, Pilot Point HIgh School), Marissa Greenough (Laguna Beach, CA, Laguna Beach High School), Allie Evans (Frisco, TX, Frisco High School), Marissa Mayfield (Durham, NC, Riverside HIgh School), and Karley Dough (Clayton, GA, Home-schooled) will all play some combination of outside, middle and right-side hitters while Kendall Kirk (Lexington, SC, White Knoll High School) and Kirsten Jeanes (Belton, SC, Belton-Honea Path High School) will contribute on the back row.
Erskine opens their season at the Armstrong Atlantic State University Tournament September 6th and 7th. In addition to AASU, the Fleet will also play two other Peach Belt conference members, Georgia Regents University (formerly Augusta State) and Flagler University, as well as Division I foe University of North Alabama.
With their first seven games on the road, the Fleet do not play at home until September 25th when the Valkyries of Converse College visit Belk Arena. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
Team Roster
Team Schedule
