2007 Marietta College volleyball preview
Pioneers will rely on senior leadership this fall

July 27, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — Five seniors have undertaken the task of leading the Marietta College volleyball team forward in 2007, a year after the program went 20-8 and posted the highest regular season winning percentage in school history.

A lot has changed since 2006, however, as former Washington & Lee (Va.) assistant Ray Costa has taken over the reigns of the program, which will have to overcome the loss of its top three offensive weapons to graduation.

Fortunately, a talented core of student-athletes has moved into the leadership role and has the entire squad primed to keep the momentum going.

"I believe that we have a great deal of senior leadership on the team this year," said Costa. "I am very pleased with our captains—Marissa Barnhart, Jessica Craig and Paige Williams—and our two other seniors—Casey Davis and Nikki Veigel—so far and believe that they are a highly committed group that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our program's expectations on and off the court."

Marietta has four starters back from 2006. Barnhart (1.8 kills per game and 1.0 blocks per game) returns at middle blocker, Williams (1.7 kills per game and 0.4 blocks per game) is back at right-side hitter, Sophomore Becca Holzworth, (2.9 digs per game) will split time as a defensive specialist and outside hitter. Junior Caity Shirk (10.5 assists per game, 2.0 digs per game and 0.7 blocks per game) will run the offense again as its setter. Davis (5.6 digs per game), the team's libero, is also back for another season at that key position.

The team has made it a priority to set high expectations in everything it does on the court, in the classroom and out in the community. It also takes a lot of pride in preparing to meet the responsibility that comes with those expectations.

"If as a team we are able to achieve our goals in terms of commitment, work ethic, and preparation then it is fair to say that we believe we can do things that this program hasn't done in a long time," said Costa.

Marietta will once again open the season at home with the River City Tournament on Aug. 31. The team will also compete in tournaments at Defiance on Sept. 7-8 and York, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 21-22. The Pioneers' OAC opener is slated for Sept. 15 at Heidelberg.