EDINBORO, Pa. – It will be a new-look Edinboro volleyball team that takes the court on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1 in the Falcon Fest hosted by Fairmont State. The Fighting Scots will face four of the top teams in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The season opens against Shepherd (19-16) and West Virginia Wesleyan (21-11) the first day at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, followed by a pair against Seton Hill (25-12) and Fairmont State (23-13) on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.
Just two players remain from last year's squad which finished 23-9 and advanced to the Atlantic Region semifinals, but head coach
Missy Soboleski has brought in a trio of transfers plus several highly-regarded freshmen to help maintain Edinboro's winning tradition.
Entering her eighth season, Soboleski has led the Fighting Scots to six PSAC and NCAA playoff appearances. Her teams have won 20-or-more games six times, including the last five seasons.
“This weekend will be a good challenge for us,” related Soboleski. “We have such a new team. Our starting lineup will feature many freshman.
Junior
Christina Furda is a 5'4” libero who played at Division I Akron the last two years, while
Erin Schatzle is a 5'9” junior setter who is a transfer from Owens (OH) Community College. They're joined by sophomore
Nicole Brunot, a 5'10” setter who played at Lock Haven last year.
Returnees
Haley Marett and
Tabitha Meeks, a pair of sophomores, saw considerable action last year. Marett, a 5''4”libero/defensive specialist, appeared in 76 games, totaling 110 digs and 23 service aces. Meeks is a 5'8”outside hitter who played in 23 matches, finishing with 87 kills and 58 digs.
Freshmen
Marah Maycock and
Breanna Gardner look to spearhead the attack from the outside and rightside, respectively. Maycock is a 5'8” freshman from Randolph High School, where she led the Lady Cardinals to the New York Class D state championship. Gardner is 5'10” and a former four-time All-Section performer at Steel Valley(Pa.) High School.
Following this weekend's competition the Fighting Scots face another tough weekend on September 7-8, playing in the Puma Invite at St. Joseph's(Ind.).
