East to debut new look
Girls volleyball
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The 2007 version of Williamsville East girls volleyball looks totally different from last year. Seven of the team's 12 players graduated, leaving many opportunities for role players on varsity or newcomers from JV to step in and contribute.

Leading East this year is setter Mary McDaniel. The senior earned ECIC Division II first-team honors last year. She also was named to the all-tournament team at Frontier.

"I think she's one of the top setters in the area," said East coach Scott Wright. "She controls the game well and distributes the ball to all of the hitters. She does everything that you can ask of a setter. When she's running the show, she makes everyone else better."

Other returning Lady Flames who started on and off last year are senior Karen Kingsley, junior Brittany Rung and senior Kelly Rusin. Kingsley and Rung will carry the load at middle hitter. Rung will also be the team's No. 1 option for offense when she's in the front row. Rusin will set when McDaniel is in the back row, and hit when she's in the front row and McDaniel is setting.

"The biggest challenge for each of them is stepping into a bigger role and being a person the team can count on," said Wright.

Wright will also have to rely on junior outside hitters Taylor Klun, Jenna Larkin and Jacquie Vujcec. All played JV last year.

"They will have to jump into a varsity role and put in a lot of minutes," said Wright. "I've never gone into a season without at least one experienced outside hitter, so a lot is to be expected of them for us to be successful this year."

Rounding out the team are senior outside hitter Jen Aguglia, junior outside hitter Alina Swierski, and junior middle hitters Ellia McIntosh and Megan Mulcahy.

Overall, Wright said his team doesn't have a lot of experience but possesses good height, athletic ability and a willingness to get better.

"Once the players get that experience, we're going to make huge strides, especially in the second half of the year," said Wright. "It's going to be how the players who don't have much experience and the ones who saw some time last year come together."
East 2007 Schedule
9-5 Amherst ....................... 6 p.m.
9-8 at St. Mary's of Lancaster
tourn. .................................. 9 a.m.
9-11 at W.S. East............... 5 p.m.
9-15 at Frontier tourn. ..... 9 a.m.
9-17 at Sweet Home......... 5 p.m.
9-19 at Lake Shore ........... 5 p.m.
9-21 Hamburg.................... 6 p.m.
9-25 at South ..................... 6 p.m.
9-27 Iroquois...................... 6 p.m.
10-1 W.S. East ................... 6 p.m.
10-5 Sweet Home ............. 6 p.m.
10-9 Lake Shore................ 6 p.m.
10-11 at Hamburg ............. 6 p.m.
10-13 at Amherst tourn. .. 9 a.m.
10-15 South........................ 6 p.m.
10-17 at Iroquois.......... 4:30 p.m.
10-19 at Clarence......... 4:30 p.m.
10-22 North........................ 5 p.m.
*JV times listed, varsity follows
unless otherwise noted.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com