WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

The Bulls return nine players from last season's 17-17 squad and four All-Mid-Continent Conference honorees, including first-team members junior setter Somer Deschambault and senior middle hitter Aprille Sweeting. With four of their six starters returning from a team that captured the Mid-Con's East Division with a 5-1 conference record returning along with the Mid-Con Coach of the Year Bob Maxwell, the Bulls have reason to be optimistic about their inaugural season in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

In addition to Sweeting and Deschambault, look for second-team all-conference nominees senior Amy Burda and junior Rebecca Meade to lead the Bulls in 1998.

The Bulls will look for first-team All-Mid-Con selection Aprille Sweeting to fill the void left in the middle by the departure of middle hitter Kathy Brinkworth. Named team captain for the 1998 season, Sweeting saw action in 32 of UB's 34 matches and 114 of 127 games as a junior. In addition to finishing fourth on the team with a career-best 219 kills (1.9 kills/game), she also set career highs in hitting percentage (.250), assists (53), service aces (38) and solo blocks (20). Although one of the squad's top offensive threats, Sweeting figures to be a defensive force for UB in '98 as well after averaging a team-best 0.92 blocks per game a year ago.

Junior setter Somer Deschambault will key the Bulls' offense after handing out 832 assists (10th-best season total at UB) and leading the team with 6.7 assists per game in 1997. Although she has played only two seasons at UB, she already ranks third all-time in school history in assist average (7.314/game) and fourth in assists (1,726). In addition to excelling in her role as the team's offensive catalyst, she is one of the Bulls' better defenders as evidenced by her 286 digs, as well as a dangerous server after averaging 0.38 service aces per game last season. Her continued development and maturity will be an essential key to the Bulls' first season in the MAC.

Another top returner for UB is two-time all-conference selection senior outside hitter Amy Burda. The definition of a complete player as demonstrated by her finishing last season second on the team with 238 kills and fifth with 252 digs, she has developed into one of the most dangerous servers to ever play for UB. Ranking sixth all-time in school history with 167 career service aces and a .479 ace per game average, Burda's 62 aces in 1997 were the 10th-best season total ever by a UB player. Not only will the Bulls rely on her athleticism and versatility for success, but her veteran leadership as well.

The Bulls' fourth returning starter is junior outside hitter Rebecca Meade, who earned 1997 second-team All-Mid-Con honors in her first season with the team. Despite standing only 5-7, Meade has proven to be one of the most athletic players the UB women's volleyball program has ever seen. A dominating player for Division II power Dowling College in 1996 with 345 kills, 370 digs and 54 aces, Meade immediately established herself as one of the Bulls' top threats. The team leader with 291 digs and a 2.6 digs per game average last season, she also finished third with 221 kills and recorded 26 service aces in 110 games. Meade's athleticism and offensive potential will be important to a successful 1998 season.

While these four returning starters will see a majority of the playing time, the Bulls have several other returners expected to compete for playing time. Senior outside hitter Chassey Stubler saw action in 26 of UB's 34 matches last season and recorded six kills and 37 digs as she was used primarily as a defensive substitute. The younger sister of Candie Hirst, UB's career leader in kills, senior outside hitter Corinn Hirst saw action in 30 matches and posted 113 kills and 66 digs. Hirst had a season-high 13 kills in matches against both American and Wright State. Another veteran player with experience is junior outside hitter Courtney Lugert, who totaled 55 kills and 122 digs in 74 games last season. Lugert had one of her finest performances of 1997 in the season-opening victory over Navy when she had 11 kills and a career-high five blocks. Junior outside hitter Katie Cahill posted a career year in 1997 with 76 kills, 37 digs and 24 solo blocks (second-best on the Bulls). In the 66 games in which she saw action, she set career highs in kills (9) vs. Canisius, digs (8) at Northeastern Illinois and blocks (4) vs. St. Francis (PA).

Two players the Bulls figure to have contribute in their second seasons with the program are middle hitter Amelia Liddle and Trisha Strasser, both of whom redshirted and did not compete during the 1997 season. Liddle led Leaside (Ontario) High School to two Toronto city championships and was voted her team's Most Valuable Player. A four-year letterwinner and two-year captain at Hamburg High School, Strasser was selected to the All-Western New York team as a senior while leading the Bulldogs in blocking for three seasons.

In addition to UB's core of returning veterans, four newcomers, Heather Barfuss, Ann Williams, Larissa LaCour and Keri Shiels will join the team for the 1998 season.

A 6-1 middle hitter from Huntington, NY, Heather Barfuss should see considerable playing time behind Aprille Sweeting after compiling over 1,000 kills and setting records for career kills and blocks at John H. Glenn High School. Named the Suffolk League Seven MVP, Barfuss was a three-time all-state selection in volleyball while also lettering in basketball and soccer.

In addition to Barfuss, expect Northport, NY native Ann Williams to see plenty of action at middle hitter this season. A two-time all-state and three-time all-county nominee at Northport High School, the 6-0 Williams was named Long Island's Most Valuable Player as a senior.

Setter Larissa LaCour should prove to be an excellent understudy to Somer Deschambault. A four-year letterwinner and two-year captain at West Islip High School in West Islip, NY, LaCour was a first-team All-New York State selection and named the 1998 Suffolk County League Three Most Valuable Player.

The 5-10 Keri Shiels hails from Baldwin, NY where she was a four-year letterwinner at Baldwin High. Expected to compete for playing time at outside hitter, Shiels set the school record for most kills by a sophomore and led the team in kills as a senior. A three-time Nassau County all-star, she helped Baldwin capture two county titles and one conference championship.

Although the Bulls suffered a huge loss with the departure of four-time All-Mid-Continent Conference selection Kathy Brinkworth, they return a solid core of veterans and four starters from a team that captured the Mid-Con's East Division in 1997. While UB will face a considerably more difficult schedule in 1998 as they enter the Mid-American Conference, their combination of veterans and promising newcomers should prove to be a winning formula.