August 8, 2007

    The 2007 edition of the York College volleyball squad features a core of talented returners as the Spartans look to return to the upper echelon of the Capital Athletic Conference. Those returners, teamed with an exciting group of newcomers, gives Spartan head coach Sue DuMars a strong team that should have the chance to make some noise in the CAC.
    DuMars looks to seniors Katie Hertz, Laura Flaugher, Lindsay Crider, and Amy Livelsberger to provide the squad with leadership. Hertz, the Spartan setter, is a four-year starter for the green and white. She finished last season handing out 1,300, good for an average of 10.24 helpers per game. She also hit .243 with 1.25 kills per game. Hertz also added 3.05 digs and 0.43 aces per game.
    “Katie is one of the top players in our conference,” says DuMars. “I expect her to have an outstanding season. She will be a huge part of what we do on the floor this year.”
    Flaugher returns to the lineup after injuries cost her most of her 2006 campaign. Flaugher, a defensive specialist and libero, finished the year playing in just 26 games due to various leg ailments.
    “I will be excited to have a healthy Laura on the floor,” states DuMars. “She is a talented player that has a great feel for the game.”
    Crider begins her senior year coming off a solid junior campaign that saw her play in 124 of the Spartans’ 127 games during the year. She finished the season averaging 2.81 digs and 0.32 aces per game.
    “Lindsay did a nice job for us last year,” says DuMars. “She is a very versatile player that fills a number of different roles for us quite effectively.”
    Livelsberger begins her third year in the green and white looking to continue to heal from nagging injuries. Livelsberger played in 104 games in 2006 and was an effective player. She averaged 1.27 kills, 0.69 assists, 0.74 digs, and 0.31 blocks per game.
    “Amy does a great job of being a team leader,” says DuMars. “She is a very hard worker that continually pushes her teammates to do their best everyday.”
    DuMars’ junior class consists of libero Jess Smith and defensive specialist Samantha Cobaugh. Smith suffered a season-ending injury midway through 2006. She is healed and ready to resume stalking the back line as the Spartan libero. Before she was injured, Smith averaged 3.66 digs per game while she also had 0.44 aces per game.
    “Jess has worked very hard to recover from her injury and I fully expect her to be a contributor this season,” says DuMars. “She is quick to the ball and does a good job of communicating with her teammates on the floor. Jess’ presence solidifies our defense.”
    Cobaugh made good use of her playing time last year as she saw action in 104 games, recording 189 digs, 35 service aces, and 11 assists.
    “Samantha works extremely hard and has made tremendous improvements over the last two years,” states DuMars. “She continues to make contributions to the team, both on and off the field.”
    DuMars welcomes back a very talented sophomore class as outside hitter Casi Brough, outside hitter Amanda Clemens, outside hitter Jaclyn Davis, and setter Jess Diaczun provide the Spartan head coach with plenty of offensive punch.
    Brough made an immediate impact on the Spartan squad. She played in 122 games as she averaged 3.19 kills per game, 3.58 digs per game, 0.34 aces per game, and 0.32 blocks per game. Brough hit .153 as she notched a team-high 1160 attempts. She put these numbers up despite not playing competively in 2005-06 due to injury.
    “Casi did a great job last year,” says DuMars. “I believe she has just scraped the surface of her abilities. She is very athletic and has a great understanding of the game. I expect her to have a big year for us.”
    Clemens came on late in the year for York as she played in just 45 games, almost all in the last quarter of the season. Clemens hit .113 as she averaged 1.60 kills and 2.84 digs per game.
    “Amanda really came on late last year,” says DuMars. “She took a bit to get adjusted to the collegiate game but when it clicked in, she played really well. I am excited to see her on the floor this fall. She has an opportunity to be a key player for us.”
    Davis had a successful freshman campaign as she played in 113 games. She hit .127 with 2.50 kills, 0.95 digs, and 0.26 blocks per game. Davis accumulated 283 kills, the third highest mark on the squad.
    “Jaclyn has a very high ceiling,” states the Spartan head coach. “She has the potential to be a big contributor to our squad but it is key for her to come into the preseason ready to go.”
    Diaczun saw limited time as the Spartans’ backup setter in 2006. She played in six games with four assists, three service aces, and seven digs. Diaczun is a hard working player that has made tremendous strides in the last year.
    “Jess has worked very hard and she has put herself in position to earn more court time this fall,” says DuMars. “She is the type of player that every coach would want to have on their team.”
    DuMars’ freshman class is deep and talented. The class features middle hitter Liz Sempervive, middle hitter Heather Toth, outside hitter Sarah Jackson, outside hitter Alishia Waltermyer, outside hitter / setter Lindsay Schorner, and setter Erica Isennock.
    Sempervive hails from Hunterdon Central High School in New Jersey where she helped win a New Jersey High School state championship.
    “Liz is a very aggressive player that is experienced in playing the middle,” says DuMars. “Liz does a great job of reading the defense. We need her to step in and contribute right away.”
    Toth is from Niwot High School in Colorado. She is experienced with solid blocking skills that will aid her in the adjustment to the collegiate game.
    “Heather will have the chance to step in and contribute immediately,” states DuMars. “She is a well-schooled player that is a very experienced club player.”
    Jackson comes to York College from Reading Holy Name. She was a PIAA All-State selection as a senior. Jackson is a strong outside hitter from an excellent high school program.
    “Sarah is a player with experience in a very strong high school program,” states DuMars. “She will have the opportunity to see quality floor time this year.”
    Waltermyer is a PIAA All-State outside hitter from Red Lion High School. She is a strong, quick player that plays bigger than her 5-10 height would suggest. She is athletic and will have a chance to contribute to the Spartan program during her freshman year.
    “Alishia is a very talented player that brings a presence to the net,” says DuMars. “She may need a little time to adjust to the collegiate game but I expect her to work her way into the lineup sometime during the year.”
    Schorner is a transfer that has all four years of eligibility remaining. She comes to YCP as a former high school teammate of Brough at Spring Grove. She is a versatile athlete that is also a positive leader on the floor.
    “Lindsay is a player that can do a number of different things on the floor,” says DuMars. “She will work hard to earn her court time.”
    Isennock was a 2005 PIAA All-State selection at Susquehannock High School. She is a very experienced setter that will need to shake the rust of not playing competitively in a year.
    “Erica is a setter that is capable of running a quick offense and putting up a solid block,” says DuMars. “She is very talented and has always played on very good teams.”
    DuMars has high expectations for this year’s edition of the Spartan club.
    “We bring back experience everywhere but in the middle,” says DuMars. “I am confident that we can fill the middle with some newcomers. Our success will be determined by how quickly we mesh as a team. Our returners worked very hard in the off-season and our seniors are intent on competing for a Capital Athletic Conference championship.”
    DuMars also likes the depth of her team.
    “We have a very deep bench that will make practice a highly competitive situation. Strong competition in practice is what gives us the edge during a match.”
    “I like the make-up of this team,” says DuMars.
“We have the opportunity to have an outstanding season and I am looking forward to getting started in August.”