EDINBORO, Pa. (September 4, 2014) – The Edinboro women's volleyball program has experienced much success in its 43-year history, including 15 appearances in the NCAA Atlantic Regional and four trips to the NCAA Elite Eight. However, Edinboro has missed the PSAC playoffs the past two seasons, finishing with an 11-22 mark in 2012 and an 18-18 record last season, after the Fighting Scots had posted seven consecutive winning seasons and six straight PSAC and NCAA Tournament appearances from 2005-11.
 

With a much more experienced group in 2014, head coach Missy Soboleski says this year's squad is geared to contend for a postseason bid after a two-year hiatus from the postseason.
 
"The last few seasons have been a growing period for our team, " Soboleski stated, who enters her tenth year as head coach. "This year we return every starter and also add some very athletic athletes to the roster.  I think the experience we return will help us in some tough matches.  Over the last few years these athletes have seen a lot of tough volleyball and I think they will be able to handle whatever is thrown at them."
 
For the first time since 2012, the Fighting Scots return upperclassmen with several years of experience, starting with second team All-PSAC West selection Megan Branchick. The junior paced Edinboro and ranked eighth in the PSAC with 375 kills last season.  
 
The Fighting Scots also return a pair of seniors in libero Haley Marett and outside hitter Tabitha Meeks.
 
Marett recorded a team-high 751 digs last season, good for second in the conference, while Meeks posted 304 kills in 2013, the third-highest total on the team.
 
Soboleski hopes for her veteran players to step into leadership roles this season.
 
"I am really looking for all of them to step up and play a larger, positive role this year," Soboleski said. "We have athletes, and now is the time they need to start to separate themselves from the rest of the pack in their positions.  I am really looking forward to the season and seeing who is going to bring it!"
 
Edinboro was picked to finish sixth out of eight teams in the 2014 PSAC West Preseason Coaches Poll after tying for sixth place in the division last season with Indiana (Pa.).
 
Soboleski forecasts the conference is shaping up to be very competitive as usual in 2014.
 
"Our conference is always tough," Soboleski said. "The Western Division is always strong and the Eastern Division is getting tougher every year.  I think the west will be tough from top to bottom.  Every night any team can win."

The Fighting Scots open the 2014 campaign in the Tony Banner Invitational, hosted by Clarion University on Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6. Edinboro takes on Adelphi at 1 p.m. on Friday before facing Walsh at 11 a.m. and Wayne State at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

 
Adelphi finished the 2013 season with a 19-13 mark, appearing in its seventh consecutive NCAA Division II East Regional. The Panthers are led by two-time All-American middle blocker Kaitlin DeStefano, who is the programs all-time leader in blocks after just three seasons with 421. DeStefano paced Adelphi with 327 kills and an attack percentage of .353 last season.
 
Walsh posted a 5-23 overall record last season, while Wayne State closed the 2013 season with an 11-18 ledger.
 
The Fighting Scots then travel to Pittsburgh, Pa. to battle Point Park on Tuesday, September 9, before making the short trek up I-79 to Erie, Pa. for the 2014 PSAC/Mountain East Crossover hosted by Gannon University on Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13. Edinboro opens its home portion of the schedule hosting Notre Dame College on September 16.
 
Setters:
The Fighting Scots return 5'11'' junior Katie Felix, who contributed a team-high 1072 assists last season. She also led the team with 45 service aces while posting 291 digs.

"Katie ran the offense most the time for us," Soboleski said. "We look for her to push for the starting spot if we run a 5-1. Incoming we have Sydney Trathen and Molly Regan.  Both are very talented athletes that can come in and contribute right away. We look for both to come in and push to play."  

Middle Hitters:
"We return Maria Concheck and Latoya Hutchinson at the middle hitter position," stated Soboleski. "Maria does a great job blocking for us as a two-year starter, and we look to get more offense from her this year. Latoya also started last year.  She had some nagging injuries that limited her playing time and hope to get more from her on the court. We also add Megan Warrington.  She gives us more size in both positions and power offensively."  

Concheck started 23 matches in 2013, pacing the Fighting Scots with 114 total blocks and ranked fifth on the team with 171 kills. Hutchinson ranked third on the team with 58 total blocks in 32 appearances last season.
 

Outside Hitters:
"We return Marah Maycock and Tabitha Meeks as two and three-year starters, respectively," related Soboleski. "Both have great ball control and have the fiery attitude you need in hitters.  We look for both of them to handle the ball for us as well as score points for us offensively. We also return Dee Montanez and Jill Glover.  Both of them give us more depth in that position.  Dee we look for ball control on the court and Jill we look for more blocking and scoring offensively for us. Both will push for a starting spot.

Maycock, a 5'8'' junior, ranked second on the team with 333 kills, followed by Meeks in third with 304 kills. Meeks also sat second on the team with 416 total digs.
Montanez appeared in three matches with two kills and eight digs, while Glover saw action in 19 matches with 30 kills, 20 digs and seven block assists.

Edinboro also adds 5'8'' freshman Challen Litwiller.
  
"Adding Challen is adding phenomenal ball control both offensively and defensively," Soboleski said. She has tremendous athletic ability and will compete immediately for an outside hitter, defensive specialist or libero spot.  She never gets rattled when she plays, and we will want her to handle the first ball if she is on the court."
 
Libero:
"Haley Marett, Victoria Maxin and Eiley Durham return with Haley returning as our libero" commented Soboleski. "Vic and Eiley saw limited playing time defensively but both were serving specialists and served us some critical points last season in tough matches.  Both of them have great attitudes and work ethic.  Haley is that fiery spark plug that never quits.  She goes all out all of the time and that is what makes her so special.  All three of them will be great role models for our freshman. " 

Marett, a 5'4'' senior, posted the second-highest season total in Edinboro history with 751 digs in 2013. The Volant, Pa. native also recorded 123 assists, good for third on the team. Durham appeared in seventeen matches with 14 service aces and 27 digs, while Maxin saw action in 18 matches with five service aces and 16 digs.

Soboleski also noted the addition of freshman Taylor Palowski.

"Palowski is one determined athlete," described Soboleski. She holds herself to a high standard and loves to run the defense on her court.  She has great ball control and great attitude."

Right sides:
"We return Breanna Gardner, Jen Gruber and Megan Branchick," Soboleski said. "Megan was our go-to hitter last year and only being a junior we still look for great things from her.  She is very aggressive offensively and can play both front and back row and score from both.  We are hoping for leadership from her on the court as well.  Jen and Breanna both saw time last year but both had to be sidelined at times for injuries.  They both are explosive hitters that can terminate and will definitely push for starting spots."

Branchick, who led the team with 375 kills, also ranked second on the team with 74 total blocks. Gruber appeared in 19 matches with two starts, posting 69 kills, 101 digs and 15 total blocks. Gardner made 17 appearances with four starts, totaling 37 kills, 11 digs and 13 total blocks.