STANDISH, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College volleyball team opened the season with three matches in a round-robin tournament at Maine Maritime Academy last weekend.
Although the Monks fell short in all three contests, the young team showed signs of improvement as the weekend progressed and jumps right back into action tonight with a non-conference match at Plymouth State University (6:00 PM).
STARTS AT THE TOP:
First-year Head Coach Jon Roberts was tabbed as the Monks' skipper over the summer and brings a wealth of coaching experience to the newly created full time position. Roberts comes to SJC after transforming the Scarborough High School program into a perennial state title contender during his eight years there, as he led the Red Storm to a pair of Class A Maine State Championships, five State Championship appearances, and trips to the postseason on eight occasions in as many years. He was recognized as the Maine Volleyball Coaches Association Class A Coach of the Year twice and also garnered a pair of Portland Press Herald High School Volleyball Coach of the Year honors.
WHERE WE LEFT OFF:
Last fall, under the watch of former Head Coach Alexis Michal, the Monks earned the #6 seed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament and suffered a 3-0 (25-11, 26-24, 25-14) loss at the hands of #3 Rivier University in the opening round of the playoffs.
DEARLY DEPARTED:
The Monks lost one player to graduation last spring: two-year team captain and four-year starter Jordynne Copp '18. During her senior year, Copp tallied 273 kills, 102 digs, and 69 total blocks with a .278 hitting percentage in 2017 and garnered Second Team All-Conference honors for her efforts. She also was selected to play in the New England Women's Volleyball Association (NEWVA) Senior Classic All-Star Game, becoming the second SJC player to do so.
KEY RETURNERS:
Three-time All-GNAC honoree Jennelle Thompson (Rochester, N.H.) headlines a group of eight returning players after tallying 674 digs and a 6.24 digs per set average last fall. The senior libero broke the Monks' career digs record during her third collegiate season and became the first SJC player to surpass the 2,000 career digs mark in the second game of the 2018 season.
Junior outside hitter Kelsey Bickford (Somersworth, N.H.) figures to lead the Monks' offensive attack yet again after tallying 338 kills on 1,209 attempts as a sophomore. Last fall, she ranked second in the GNAC in attempts, fourth in kills, and fifth in points (360.5) and her kills total ranks as the third highest in team history.
Senior setter Sarah Dyer (Seabrook, N.H.) is also back after posting 753 assists and 236 digs during her junior season. In 2017, she ranked fourth in the GNAC in assists and fifth in assists per set (7.67) despite missing several matches due to injury.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH:
The Monks 2018 roster features seven freshmen, with several looking to play right away. Opposite side Nicole Baron (Derry, N.H.) and middle blocker Sarah Quinn (Dover, N.H.) logged significant time during opening weekend and figure to improve as the season goes on.
GAMES TO SEE:
Sep. 13 vs. Southern Maine: The 2018 home opener pits a pair of in-state rivals against each other as the Monks and Huskies meet for the 36th time since the start of the 1996 campaign. USM topped SJC, 3-0, at Maine Maritime on Saturday and holds an 18-17 record versus the Monks over the last 22 seasons.
Oct. 25 vs. University of New England: The Monks host the Nor'easters in the last home match of the season. UNE topped SJC at Maine Maritime last weekend, but both teams figure to look much different when they face off six weeks from now.
Oct. 27 at Johnson & Wales: Saint Joseph's travels to Providence to take on the two-time GNAC Champion Wildcats, who went 35-1 and advanced all the way to the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 last fall, in the 2018 regular season finale.
2018 SCHEDULE SYNOPSIS:
$WEBSITE.INCLUDE("/SPORTS/BOILER_PLATE")
