Volleyball

Volleyball 2011 Season Outlook

The 2011 season looks to be an exciting one for the Wilmington University Volleyball program. Returning six starters from the 2010 season, the Wildcats have a lot of experience to build off, while the recruiting class brings a wealth of experience and talent. Eight players return from 2010, and four new faces have joined the squad, including two transfers. The coaching staff believes that this combination of athletes will bring energy and excitement to the court.

The senior class brings back four familiar faces, including two starters from 2010. Sheri Hunley, a 5’10” middle hitter, has developed nicely over the past three years, and her athleticism and blocking make her an asset to the program. She is versatile and will look to provide strength in the middle and right side positions. Paige Norvell, the only left-handed player, is dominant on the right side. She has added a jump serve to her game which makes her even more of a threat to opponents. In addition to being a great athlete, she has also performed extremely well in the classroom and was inducted into Wilmington University’s Athletic Honor Society. Shannon Rumple, a 5’8” setter, has been a starting setter for the past three years. She has become more vocal and runs a fast and effective court. Rumple has a great serve and is a very effective swing blocker. Kim Shropshire, a libero/defensive specialist, is quick and energetic on the floor. She sees the game as it is progressing and adds a great deal of reliability for the defense.

The junior class returns one player. Nicole Wiechecki, a First-Team All-CACC selection in 2010, returns to the outside hitting position. She has a powerful jump serve and an incredibly fast arm swing, finishing the last year ranked third in the country in aces per game. Wiechecki will definitely be a player to watch during the 2011 season.

The sophomore class returns our most energetic group of young ladies and one transfer student. Brittany Biddle, 6'0” middle hitter and 2010 Second-Team All-CACC selection, is a quick and dominant middle hitter. She transitions well along the net and has great court sense. Her enthusiasm for the game has an amazing impact on the strength of our team. Ann Marie Scarfo, a 5’9” outside hitter, has a nice arm swing and is getting stronger all the time. She has worked hard since joining the Wildcats and has improved immensely on the outside. Standing at 6’3” tall, Kaitlin Shorter brings the height to the middle hitter position that Wilmington has been searching for. She is a terminating blocker with a quick arms wing. She connects well with setters and will be a force to reckon with in the middle. Transferring in to join the ‘Cats is Brooke Foskey, a 5’11” outside hitter. She brings height to the outside hitting position that the Wildcats have never had. She has amazing power and versatility, and the coaches are looking to her for great things.

The freshmen class brings in two outstanding athletes. Kasey Couch, a 5’7” setter from Maryland, is a quick and energetic young lady who is capable of running a fast and furious offense. She has a nice float jump serve that often proves to be too much for many teams. And last, but definitely not least, Mia Padilla, a 5’3” defensive specialist and libero, joins the Wildcat program coming from Virginia Beach, Virginia. With years of beach experience as well as indoor experience, she is a dominant defensive player. She sees plays developing and reads the court very well. Both of these young ladies will be a pleasure to watch in the 2011 season

Overall, with a strong sense of unity, determination and commitment, the Wildcats look to be a team to be reckoned with in the CACC. The depth and skill level of players in this program will allow us to be a dominant team in the conference. The players have put countless hours of work into being prepared to be the best they can be. The coaching staff believes that if this squad continues to work well together, they will accomplish great things.