WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University women's volleyball team has been picked fifth in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) preseason poll, as voted on by coaches from the league.
The Lancers finished last season with an 11-20 overall record, and notched two conference wins.
13-year head coach, Bernie Chase, comes back for the 2017 season along with assistant coach, Jade Garay, in who is entering her second season as an assistant coach.
This season, the Lancers return first team All-Conference honoree, Emily Carens (Northborough, Mass.). Carens led the team in points (309), kills (277), and kills per set (2.59) last season while also registering 19 service aces. Carens also helped the team out defensively as she notched 210 digs and 23 total blocks on the 2016 season.
The Blue and Gold also welcome back junior setter Allie Nolan (Melrose, Mass.). Last season, Nolan was the starting setter who tallied 619 assists and 7.06 assists per set, good for 4th place in the MASCAC. She also registered 54 kills and 28 service aces, along with 145 digs on the defensive end.
At the libero position, the Lancers will return senior Katrina Kangwijaya (Dunstable, Mass.) and junior Megan Leavens (W. Boylston, Mass.). The two recorded 389 and 216 digs, respectively, while also chipping in 32 and 17 assists each.
The Lancers look forward to having outside hitter Amari King (Lawrence, Mass.) on the roster this season, as she joins the team this season following a two-year stint at Anna Maria College. King shined at Anna Maria College as she was most recently named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year and was also named the Anna Maria College MVP and Female Athlete of the Year. During her rookie season with the AMCATS, she was tabbed the 2015-16 Anna Maria College Rookie of the Year. King was named to the All-Conference team in both her freshman and sophomore years.
The women's volleyball season kicks off on Saturday, September 2 as Worcester State hosts the 2017 Worcester City Tournament. The teams in attendance at the event will be Worcester State, WPI, Clark, and Gordon. The action begins at 11 a.m.
2017 MASCAC Women's Volleyball Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
1. Framingham State (7) 49 points
2. Westfield State (1) 43 points
3. MCLA 32 points
4. Bridgewater State 31 points
5. Worcester State 29 points
6. Salem State 18 points
7. Massachusetts Maritime 13 points
8. Fitchburg State 9 points
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