"Strong" upperclassmen lead volleyball team
Nicole Williams, '11 | Staff Reporter
Issue date: 9/18/09 Section: Sports
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"Playing this first game was so much fun," said freshman Sarah Keyser. "I love the team; we all work together to help each other. It makes the game easier to play, and it worked. We won.
"Playing volleyball here made it easy for me to make the transition from high school to college. With the transition being so easy it helps me be a better player."
The majority of the 2009 team is freshmen. "This is my first year playing," said Kelly Patterson. "I played in middle school, but it's definitely different. Nicole (Wright) plays the same position as me, and she has been very helpful,"
Wright is in her third year at Morrisville State College.
Morrisville brings back four upperclassmen, including Amanda Britton, senior outside hitter; Nicole Wright, junior middle hitter; and sophomores Casandra Kimbrell and Keli Stewart, an outside hitter and setter. "The four strong upperclassmen are expected to be a key to the team's successful season," said head coach Brian Ellithorpe, in his third season.
Assisting Ellithorpe is Jeremy Cook, who has been with Morrisville since 2006 and helps with the recruiting process.
The playes said a skill they need to improve is their communication with one another. "We need to get use to playing together as a team and each time we play, we get better because we learn each other strengths and weakness," Patterson said.
The MSC Athletic Department named Amanda Britton the athlete of the week on Sept. 6. Britton led the volleyball team to a 3-2 record, winning over Cazenovia, Keuka College, and Hilbert College.
The Mustangs played rival school Cazenovia Sept. 1 and won, 3-1. The team competed in its first tournament Sept. 4 at D' Youville College. The Mustangs picked up two wins and two losses. The team also picked up four losses at a SUNY Potsdam Tournament, resulting with an overall record of 3-6.
The Mustangs team plays Keuka College on Saturday.
Morrisville State is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division III in 2009-10 and is eligible for NCAA Championship Tournament play.