PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle volleyball team returned to campus on Friday to begin practice in preparation for the upcoming season.
 
Head Coach Dave Stever believes his players have been diligent this summer and has high expectations despite being faced with a challenging schedule.
 
“The women on the team have been working very hard during the summer months and are really physically ready for a tough season,” Stever said. “We would like to make it into the A-10 playoffs.”
 
His team will have rigorous “two-a-day” practices which are accompanied by individual skill building exercises at the end of practice every afternoon.
 
“I am optimistic about improving upon last season,” Stever said. “With all our experience we should do very well.”
 
Stever's experienced squad is led by senior captains Breanna Mazalewski and Samantha Tulskie.  
 
Mazalewski enters the season ranked sixth in digs (1041) in program history. Her 385 digs in 2011 were good for eight-most in the A-10. In addition, her 38 services aces finished second in the conference a season ago.
 
Tulskie begins the season with 1048 career digs, which stands fifth all-time at La Salle. Last season, her 381 digs were good for ninth-most in the A-10.
 
Stever expects his other three seniors, Kelly Scanlon, Lauren Noga, and Emily Merrick, to play significant roles and believes all three have a good chance to crack his starting lineup.
 
Scanlon led the Explorers in kills (262) and attempts (976) last year. Her 976 attempts rank tenth all-time in program history for a single season.
 
Merrick played in 30 matches for the Explorers in 2011 while Noga was forced to sit out the season with an injury.
 
The 2012 roster sports a fresh look, with five newcomers on board to replace the departed senior class from a year ago.
 
Freshman Kelly Perillo will look to make an immediate splash for the Explorers. The three-time All-Delaware performer was named Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year in the state following her junior season.
 
Other notable additions include Elena Lamping and Erin Noga, sister of current Explorer senior Lauren Noga.
 
The Explorers will open their season by hosting the La Salle Invitational at Tom Gola Arena on August 25-26. The field includes Bucknell, Loyola (Ill.), Manhattan, and Niagara.