Women's Volleyball | 9/2/2010 11:33:51 AM

ROCHESTER, NY - Despite a young core, the 2010 RIT women's volleyball team enters the season looking to re-establish itself as one of the top teams in the Empire 8 Conference and New York State region. Head Coach Jim Lodes is no stranger to success at RIT, having led the squad to three straight NCAA Tournament Appearances in his first stint from 1991-1993. Overall, Lodes led RIT to an impressive 170-59 mark in five seasons, including a program record 52 wins in 1992, and a trip to the national Division III semifinals in 1993.

Lodes is very happy to be back at RIT and is excited to lead the Tigers back to the NCAA Tournament on an annual basis.

“We are eager to start a new tradition and continue to be one of the top teams in New York,” said Lodes. “We want to work hard every day, improve and understand where we're going, and try to do that as quickly as possible.”

Senior Jessica Schaffer (Wellington, OH/Keystone) is back for her final season to lead a talented group of outside and right side hitters. Schaffer, a 2010 co-captain, returns after being away from the squad for two seasons. In 2007, she was a honorable mention AVCA All-American and enters her senior year sixth all-time at RIT in kills (1,285), ninth in digs (1,514), and fifth with 215 aces.

The sophomore duo of Rebecca Moore (San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo) and Katie Cooper (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) are ready to step up and take a more prominent role this season. In 2009, Moore finished second on the squad with 338 kills and a strong .254 hitting percentage. Cooper was third on the team with 185 kills and added 52 blocks.  In addition, sophomores Suzanne Jokajtys (Boonville, NY/Adirondack), and Brianne Yannotta (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY/Sachem North), along with freshmen Kyra Wilson-Houck (Painted Post, NY/Corning West) will push for plenty of playing time.

“Right now, this is our deepest and most experienced position,” said Lodes. “We have plenty of versatility between our outsides and right side hitters. We're excited to have Jess (Schaffer) back in the mix. Her experience, leadership, and versatility are keys for such a young team. We will use her in many roles. I am excited to have Rebecca Moore (San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo) and Katie Cooper (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) back. I expect them to build off their strong freshman seasons. We may try to get three to four hitters on the court at the same time.”

In the middle, sophomore Cat Sullivan (Lehman, PA/Lake-Lehman), along with junior Kristin Parish (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park), and freshmen Emily Donovan (Lockport, NY/Lockport ), and Marie Barreto (Rochester, NY/Brighton) will all try to nail down the starting role.

“We are young in the middle, but reasonably physical'” said Lodes. “Cat Sullivan (Lehman, PA/Lake-Lehman) has done a great job in the offseason getting very fit, and could fill a bigger role this season. Kristin Parish (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) is extremely versatile and could also see time on the right side. Her athleticism allows us to show a few different looks offensively.”

Sophomores Christina Worth (Valencia, CA/Valencia), Cristine Schiavello (West Chester, PA/Unionville), and junior Katie Sessions (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta), along with freshman Emily Catanzarite (Pulaski, NY/Pulaski) give the Tigers plenty of depth at the setter position. Worth returns after leading the Tigers with 800 assists in 2009. She also chipped in offensively with 98 kills and a team best .395 hitting percentage, to go along with 70 blocks, despite missing time due to injury. Schiavello dished out 221 assists last season, along with 83 digs. Sessions joined the team during the middle of the 2009 season, and along with Catanzarite, will add depth and vie for a spot on the court.

“I feel we are in good shape with Christina Worth (Valencia, CA/Valencia) and Cristine Schiavello (West Chester, PA/Unionville) returning,” said Lodes. “Both have improved greatly since the spring and are getting better at running our up-tempo offense and have shown excellent leadership qualities.”

The starting spot for the libero and defensive specialist role is wide open. Junior Lauren Kraft (Lockport, NY/Holy Angels Academy), sophomores Megan Henriksen (Silver Spring, MD/Our Lady of Good Counsel), Audrey DiPoala (Victor, NY/Victor), Katie Sessions (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta), and Catanzarite are all vying for that role. Kraft, a 2010 co-captain, has seen some time during her previous two seasons, but has come into this season looking to grab the starting role. Henriksen, who led the squad in digs during the 2008 season before taking last season off, arrived in excellent shape. Henriksen, who is also a standout with RIT's women's lacrosse team, was an All-Empire 8 first team lacrosse selection in 2010. DiPoala returns after leading the Tigers with 354 digs in 2009. Sessions joined the team midway through 2009, and is a strong athlete.

“Lauren Kraft (Lockport, NY/Holy Angels Academy) has done a great job in camp,” said Lodes. “She is a tremendous worker, in great shape, disciplined, much improved, and picked up what the coaching staff is looking for right away. Megan Henriksen (Silver Spring, MD/Our Lady of Good Counsel) is an excellent athlete, who is getting back up to speed after a year off, and could play a tremendous role. Both have shown great leadership abilities. Both have led by example. I also expect Audrey DiPoala (Victor, NY/Victor) to contribute after a strong freshman season.”

The Tigers will play a very demanding schedule in 2010, in action seven of eight weekends in September and October. RIT opens the season with tournaments at Hartwick and St. Lawrence before hosting the eight-team RIT Invitational on September 17-18. The following weekend, the Tigers open up Empire 8 play by hosting the first of two conference crossovers. RIT will play Alfred, Ithaca, defending champion Stevens, and Utica the first weekend. After a home non-conference contest against SUNY Cortland, the Tigers travel to the Oneonta and Clarkson Tournaments, before three non-conference matches against local foes SUNY Brockport, Rochester, and St. John Fisher. RIT wraps up Empire 8 play with contests against Nazareth, Hartwick, Elmira, and St. John Fisher in Ithaca on October 22-23. RIT wraps up the regular season with the New York State Regional Challenge at Nazareth the following weekend. The top four teams in conference play will qualify for the Empire 8 Tournament on November 6. Advancing to the tournament is a goal for RIT this season.

“We want to qualify for the Empire 8 Championship and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament, and get there as soon as possible,” said Lodes. “It will not happen overnight, but we want to lay the foundation this season to make this a regular goal of ours.”