CHESTNUT HILL BALANCES VOLLEYBALL ROSTER WITH OFFENSIVE ADDITIONS
Courtesy of Greg Gornick, Chestnut Hill SID
Philadelphia, PA – (6/28/2010) – A young Chestnut Hill College women’s volleyball team made strides in 2009. With a vastly improved defense the Griffins battled in every match and eventually captured their first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) victory. Continued progress is expected this year as Head Coach Kim Feeny has balanced the Griffins’ resources with an offensively orientated recruiting class.
As the newest outside hitters, Kailey Arlen (Orland Park, IL) and Alex DePalama (Shillington, PA) will play a major role in the offense’s efficiency. Hailing from Mother McAuley High School, Arlen was an all-star in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). She is an experienced player whose knowledge of the game, commitment, and discipline will help unite the Griffins. DePalama’s energy and winning attitude should compliment Arlen well. She possesses a strong jumping ability and a forceful arm swing from the outside, which earned her the MVP and Most Outstanding Player awards at Governor Mifflin High School.
Helping to fuel the offense will be two new setters playing alongside sophomore setter Courtney Gallo (Wilmington, DE). Allison Eberly (Orwigsburg, PA) established herself as a team leader at Blue Mountain High School where she served as team captain while earning all-league and all-district status in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) District XI. Coach Feeny commented, “Eblery is a team leader and she loves to compete. She enjoys a challenge and she thirsts to learn more about the game.” Rounding out the setter depth chart will be Sarah Mattaliano (Coral Springs, FL), who Feeny described as a “very athletic and hard working individual”.
The fifth newcomer for the Griffins is sophomore transfer Crystal Mann (Burtonsville, MD). Mann is a defensive specialist from Cheyney University, where she was selected as the winner for the Unsung Hero Award. Her experience, athleticism, and tireless work ethic will help to motivate a maturing defense. Last year, sophomore libero Elisabeth DiGregorio (Conshohocken, PA) captained a young defensive core in 2009 which included specialists, junior Alyssa Miller (East Stroudsburg, PA) and sophomore Bobbie Chukuntarod (San Francisco, CA). As the team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), DiGregorio posted the program’s highest single-season dig total (518) and led the CACC in digs per game (5.03) to rank 26th nationally in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II.
The Griffins seek a more balanced performance in 2010 and with the influx of offensive talent they look to continue their rise through the ranks of the CACC.
