A Year Older, Volleyball Looks to Climb NE-10 Ladder in 2008

The Southern New Hampshire University volleyball team was many times a Jekyll and Hyde squad to watch in 2007.  With eight underclassmen, including four freshmen, the Penmen were plagued by inconsistency, sometimes on a game-to-game basis.  However, the team showed the kind of talent it had when, in the season finale, rallied from a 2-0 deficit to top Merrimack, a team that had defeated it 3-0 earlier in the season.  The Warriors would eventually end up in the Northeast-10 championship game and earn a NCAA berth.

With 12 returners and the roster having a year of experience under its belt, SNHU appears poised to climb up the NE-10 ladder and make the program's first conference tourney appearance since 2003.  However, the league's coaches, in the preseason poll, didn't necessarily share that view, picking the Penmen to finish 10^th.

SNHU returns five seniors, and all will be looked to to contribute in a myriad of ways.  Brianna Doucet (Danville, NH) finished second on the squad with 184 kills while also recording a team-high 312 digs on the season.  Jamie Rood (Southbury, CT) finished with 151 kills in 2007 while also recording 140 digs and 40 blocks, while Nicky Dumond (Tewksbury, MA) is the leading returning setter from a season ago, as she handed out 258 assists while playing in 18 of 24 matches.

Amanda Dzioba (Salem, NH) appeared in 12 matches last season and had seven digs in the season-ending win over Merrimack, while Meagan Schadlick (Salem, NH) will redshirt the 2008 season after undergoing knee surgery in the offseason.  Schadlick, along with Doucet and Dumond, will serve as captains this season.

Leading the junior class will be Kim Rowe (Exeter, NH) and Allison Murphy (Montague, MA).  Rowe appeared in all but one match and in part-time setting duty, recorded 126 assists.  She also had 67 kills on the season.  Murphy also appeared in 23 of 24 matches and finished with 112 digs and 54 kills on the season.

Also entering their third year with the program are Ashley Dingle (Malone, NY) and Megan Abad (Merrimack, NH).  Dingle appeared in 13 matches last fall and totaled 28 digs, while Abad has participated in 16 matches over her first two seasons.

Stephanie Dluginski (Floral Park, NY) returns after establishing herself as one of the top hitters in the NE-10 as a freshman in 2007.  Dluginski garnered Northeast-10 Second Team All-Conference honors last season after registering 270 kills, a .289 hitting percentage and also registering 100 blocks.  She ranked third in the league in hitting percentage, fourth in blocks per game and ninth in kills per game.

Joining Dluginski in the sophomore class are Kristin Wilson (Milton, NH) and Erica Richards (Tolland, CT).  Wilson appeared in all but one match last season and registered 117 digs and 25 service aces.  Richards saw limited playing time as a freshman but will have a chance to enter the rotation.

This year's lone newcomer is Danielle Coffey (Westborough, MA), who comes to the Penmen after a highly-decorated high school career.  A middle hitter, Coffey led Westborough HS to a 23-1 record and a state championship last season and twice earned All-State and All-League accolades over her career.

Southern New Hampshire opens its season August 30^th at home against Post University and opens Northeast-10 play September 9 at home against UMass Lowell.