Women's Volleyball | August 25, 2017

PHILADELPHIA- The La Salle volleyball team will open the 2017 campaign this weekend, beginning with a two-day tournament at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.

The Explorers enter the season with a will to prove themselves, as the group returns eight starters and welcomes three new freshman to the team who will be expected to compete for playing time.

"The mentality of the team this year is definitely that we want to get better," said captain Rachel Carr. "We want to be as strong as possible, as conditioned as possible, and we want to work on our skills and talent and really showcase to the A-10 that we're here to compete."

Head coach Caitlin Schweihofer coached the team to a five game improvement a season ago in her third year at the helm. As she begins her fourth season, with a squad entirely of her own recruited players, she hopes to advance the team to the next level.

"I think everyone who came into our program here now has a clear understanding of what my vision is and what I expect our La Salle volleyball program to be. That culture of winning and creating a hardworking and winning environment is something that we've been striving for for the past four years," said Schweihofer.

Schweihofer begins the fall with three weekend tournaments to challenge the team in the nonconference schedule to push the Explorers to Atlantic 10 tournament play.

 "They are really hungry, they really want to feel what it's like the play in that environment and that tournament-like challenge that has six of the best teams in our conference competing over one weekend all in the same place. I want to give them that experience and that opportunity to experience and to play in that environment. It's something that I'm ready for and I think the team is ready for."

In order to accomplish their goals this season, the team will rely on a mixture of skill and chemistry to rise to the challenge.

"I think our biggest thing in what we talk about in preseason is grit and putting that extra effort we need for every little point, every little drill to move us forward through the rest of the year," said captain Jensen Sharrits.  "We've already really started to gel really nicely and that really shows when it comes to play and we're a lot more comfortable, it really pushes us more and that helps a lot when it comes down to it."

Sharrits is one of three captains, along with Carr and Bryanna Davis, who will return to the court this season. Sharrits ranked first in the A-10 a season ago with 5.05 digs per set as libero.  Davis ranked second on the team with 2.43 kills per set in her junior year campaign.

Other noteworthy returnees include Devin Corah, who led the team in kills per set in her freshman campaign, with 3.11 and setter Katie Wood, who ranked fourth in the Atlantic 10 with 9.31 assists per set.

Catherine Edgington, who averaged .66 blocks per set  to lead the team a season ago, will return along with classmate Jennifer Edwards, who ranked third in digs and kills with 188 and 206, respectively.

A talented group of freshman includes Samantha Graver, named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, defensive specialist Alyssa Cianciulli and middle blocker Reilly Lowe who are expected to compete for playing time immediately.

The Explorers will put their preseason to the test on Friday, when the team opens the season against Bucknell at 5:30 in Lewisburg, Pa. La Salle will then face Iona and NJIT the following day to wrap the two-day invitational.