For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Rose

AU Veterans Prepare for Another Run at Postseason

Experience will be the key, with all but one player returning, to the Alfred University women's volleyball team this season as they push towards a third consecutive postseason appearance after posting a 17-17 record last season.

Leading the way for AU will be junior middle hitter Andrea Williamson (Walworth/Granada) who holds the school record for career kills. She is an intelligent player who led the Saxons in kills, blocks, and digs last season. Junior outside hitter Beth Merrill (Latham/Shaker) is another solid hitter and a threat from behind the service line after leading the Saxons in aces.

Sophomore setter Stephanie Sprague (Portville/Portville) will have tough shoes to fill this season as she replaces the graduated GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America, and the holder of school records for kills and assists in a career, Jen McLaughlin. Graduate student Michelle Korwin (Cassadaga/ Cassadaga), junior Alice Zebracki (Buffalo/Mount Mercy), and sophomore outside hitter Janet Dalecki (Wading River/Shoreham-Wading River) will also add punch to the Saxons' offensive attack.

Returning to AU's lineup this season will be senior middle hitter Kelly Johnston (Manlius/ Fayetteville-Manlius), who took last season off to concentrate on her hours for her major in athletic training. Johnston will try to return to her form in 1997 when she set single season school records in kills and aces.

The Saxons also have a solid group of returning defensive specialists, led by sophomore Kathy Lembke (Tonawanda/Mount Mercy). She was a key contributor to AU last season holding off the opposition's attack while also a threat behind the service line. Sophomores Melanie Hepfer (Duke Center, PA/Otto-Eldred) and Nicole Wodka (North Tonawanda/Cardinal O'Hara) and junior Margot Fostveit (DeRurtger/DeRutger) will all battle for the remaining defensive specialist position.

Head coach Gene Doorely welcomes three newcomers to this season's lineup and expects them to be able to step up into the rotation immediately. Sophomore transfer Allison Rieck (Walworth/ Walworth) and freshman Kathleen Machnik (Canandaigua/ Canandaigua) will both work in the front line while freshman Erin Murray (Candor/Candor) has been brought in for depth at setter.

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8/30/99