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2007 SEASON OUTLOOK

The Wingate University volleyball team enters the new 2007 season full of challenges. The young and talented Wingate squad will miss four exceptional seniors from the 2006 team: Rebecca Brezovec, Danielle Thompson, Lauren Alley and Molly Kerns.

The Bulldogs won the South Atlantic Conference title last fall and appeared in their third NCAA Tournament in the last four seasons. The seniors were key elements in the recent successes, as each player was an All-SAC selection at one point in her career. Brezovec was selected SAC Player of the Year.

Wingate head coach Shelton Collier believes there is tremendous optimism around the volleyball program. The Bulldogs have key returning players. In addition, Collier believes the program has put together the strongest recruiting class ever for Wingate volleyball.

“We have a clearly defined goal of repeating as conference champions again this season,” Collier said. “We have some excellent senior leadership, a group of talented and experienced incoming freshman and motivated returning players. We will definitely have a shot at back-to-back titles.”

Leading the way will be senior setter Melissa DeLuca (Bahama, N.C.), a first team All-SAC selection and MVP of the 2006 Food Lion SAC tournament. DeLuca has established herself as an elite setter in the SAC. She will bring her talented setting ability and leadership to the team in her final season.

Senior Amanda Siegrist (Wexford, Pa.) will return for her fourth season as the team’s libero. Collier considers Siegrist’s leadership and defense to be essential ingredients to the team’s success. Rounding out the senior class is Rachelle Rostas (Charlotte, N.C.), a strong and physical left-side hitter who has made continued progress in her game. Rostas is expected to be a force in the Bulldog offense.

Juniors Kathryn Reddick (Franklinton, N.C.) and Ashley Craven (Southern Pines, N.C.) are both expected to make major contributions this fall as well. Reddick was the team’s most improved player and top all-around player in the 2007 spring season. She is expected to be a strong factor as a right-side hitter. Craven will battle to win one of the middle hitter positions vacated by Brezovec and Kerns, Wingate’s two first team All-SAC middle hitters in 2006. 

Sophomores Jacki Emmenecker (Perrysburg, Ohio), Chelsea Cancelliere (Richboro, Pa.), Brittany Horner (Roxboro, N.C.), Megan McVicker (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Emily Odio (Miami, Fla.) will all fill valuable roles. Emmenecker was voted to the SAC All-Freshman team in 2006. In addition, she was voted All-Tournament at the Food Lion SAC Championships last season.

Collier is particularly excited about the incoming freshman class. “Each of these players has played years of high level club and high school volleyball, so we are confident they will have the experience and talent to be impact players immediately,” Collier beamed.

Lauren Billo (Orland Park, Ill.) was a Junior Olympic All-American and first team All-State selection. She is expected to play a key role as an outside hitter. Middle blocker Rebecca Bloemer (Louisville, Ky.) was an AAU All-American and a captain for the Assumption High School team that was ranked number two in the nation. Amanda Clark (Timberlake, N.C.) was the MVP of the 2006 North Carolina state tournament, as she helped Person High School to the state title as a skilled setter and team leader.

Two Texans complete the talented incoming class. Stormi Gale (Richmond, Texas) brings experience as a first team All-State middle blocker. Heather Myklebust (Sugar Land, Texas) was Gale’s teammate, both at Fort Bend Austin High School as well as on the highly successful Club Texas Junior Olympic team. 

“We certainly lost more top players to graduation than any other team in the league,” Collier acknowledged. “We are confident that our new freshman will be able to step in and play key roles right away. Our returning players experienced winning the conference last season; they will be prepared to win another one (in 2007).”

Check here often for updates on Volleyball at Wingate. For further information, contact Coach Shelton Collier at Wingate University, Campus Box 3054, Wingate, NC 28174,  telephone him at 704-233-8251, or e-mail: scollier@wingate.edu.