2011 Roster

2011 Schedule

Utica, N.Y. (9/6/2011) - The Utica College volleyball team begins a new era Tuesday night when they travel to local rival SUNYIT under the leadership and direction of first year Head Coach Shawn Crossley. The Pioneers have a re-vamped roster which features eight newcomers, to go along with returning upperclassmen Aundrea Dorie (Mount Markham, NY /Mount Markham) and Mimi O'Hara (Highland Falls, NY/James I. O'Neill) and sophomores Leah Kazalski (Greene, NY/Greene) and Liz Sacco (Franklin, Mass. /Franklin).

“We definitely have good size on the team this year and I am proud of how hard the girls have worked in preseason to prepare for tonight's match-up at SUNYIT,” said Crossley. “Practice has went very well and the girls are eager to step on the court for their first regular season match.”

Dorie, a 6-foot-0 outside hitter from nearby Mount Markham, NY, takes to the court for her senior campaign as the Pioneers top returning hitter. She played in all 28 games last season and finished third on the team with 67 kills. She also tallied 19 service aces and finished second on the team with 20 blocks. For her outstanding play she was recognized as an All-Tournament Team selection at the Elmira Invitational last season.

Mimi O'Hara (Highland Falls, NY/James I. O'Neill) is the Pioneers top returning setter after registering 193 assists in 26 games last year. She also posted 119 digs on the defensive end. She has a team-best 45 matches of experience under her belt and hopes to deliver that experience to the young Pioneer squad.

Kazalski and Sacco combined to play in 42 matches as freshmen and they both look forward to successful sophomore campaigns. Sacco, an outside hitter from Massachusetts, looks to improve on her 29 kills of one year ago, while Kazalski will maintain her role as a libero.

Freshman public relations major Alyssa Nicotera (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) joins the Pioneers as one of the most highly anticipated local recruits this year. The outside hitter from New York Mills comes to UC after a highly decorated high school career with the Marauders. Last year alone she was named the Section III Class “D” Player of the Year and she was selected to the All-Central New York Team. She was a three-time captain and a two-time Section III All-Star.

Sophomore Hayley Strife (Lowville, NY/Lowville), who will plays middle blocker and outside hitter for UC, enters her first season with the team. She was a Frontier League All-Star and an All-Section III Team selection during her time as a high school player at Lowville Academy.

Jena Annable, a freshman from Marietta, NY, will compete for time at setter after earning Second Team All-League honors at Marcellus High School in the Syracuse area just one year ago. The former Most Versatile Athlete award winner led Marcellus to a 2011 Liberity League Championship, as well as a Class B Section III Championship. Throughout high school she added several academic awards to her resume, including High Honor Roll accolades, the Student Ambassador Award and she also won the Donald Kilcoyne Award for Outstanding Occupational Education.

Freshman Taylor Grunert (Lowville, NY/Beaver River) comes to Utica after a record-breaking career at Beaver River High School. She capped her career as the school's all-time leader in aces. She also graduated from high school ranked second all-time in digs, third in service points and third in kills. After an outstanding senior season she was named a Frontier League All-Star. She earned Section III All-Star status in her sophomore campaign, after breaking the school's single-game record with 18 service aces. She was a scholar-athlete award winner on multiple occasions and she guided Beaver River to two straight Frontier League Championships.

Freshman Ashley Jones (Charlton, NY/Galway), a six foot blocker from Charlton, NY, was a WAC League First Team All-Star in her senior campaign at Galway High School. She was also the team's Co-Most Valuable Player, in addition to being named a Third Team All-Star in Saratoga County.

Six foot junior Krisztina Welch comes to UC after spending two years at nearby Mohawk Valley Community College. The former All-Region selection will give the Pioneers another solid presence at the outside hitter position.

Freshman setter Kellee Furno (Baltimore, MD/Maryvalle) will also push the upperclassmen for playing time after a successful high school career at Maryvalle Preparatory School in Brooklandville, Maryland. Originally from Baltimore, Furno earned IAAM All-Star recognition as a senior with the Lions volleyball program.

Freshman Mariah Walker (Frankfort, NY/Franfort-Schuyler) will add depth and size to the outside hitter position for UC. The 6-footer from Frankfort comes to Utica after an excellent career at Frankfort-Schuyler High School.

After opening up against SUNYIT on Tuesday night the Pioneers will come home to the friendly confines of Utica College's Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium for a contest against Cazenovia at 7 p.m.

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