Preseason Poll Predicts 5th Place Finish for Lady Baron Volleyball

PITTSBURGH—The Lady Baron volleyball team is predicted to finish at the number five spot this season with junior returners Meg Kay and Anna Cain as the players to watch according to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference preseason poll released earlier this week.

“We are still a new team in this conference and we have to prove ourselves every time we step out on the court,” noted head coach Kelly Herrmann. “I don’t mind being the underdog at all. We are motivated to be our best in everything that we do.”

The Lady Barons finished their 2010 season fourth of the 10 AMCC teams with a 6-3 conference record and 14-15 overall. Herrmann plans to make it a team goal to improve the standing and finish even better this season. Her confidence in knowing it’s an attainable goal comes from having many key returning players.

“Meg [Kay] and Anna [Cain] led our team statistically last year and are certainly our most powerful offensive weapons, but I could really mention every player on our team because everyone plays such a crucial role,” said Herrmann.

Kay and Cain lead the team as first team and third team all-conference players, respectively. Earning player of the week honors last October, Kay brought the power with her conference-leading 3.72 average for kills per set in 2010, while Cain balanced the team with her consistent hitting percentage (.289), kills per set (2.83), and serving average (.50 aces/set).

Also returning this fall are seniors Nicole Henson and Alyssa Wappes, and junior Kelli Flannigan. Henson is a returning defender whom Herrmann considers “the anchor of our defense.” Wappes will take on an outside hitter position as a “capable hitter and defensive player…with a completely unselfish team attitude.” After replacing Sydney Disselkamp on the back right side of the court in the middle of last season, Flannigan will return to the position due to her “good hands and ability to stretch the opponent’s defense.”

Hailing from Seton-La Salle High School in Pittsburgh, Amy O’Keefe joins the team as a freshman at Franciscan. Nominated for high school player of the year in Pittsburgh, O’Keefe will join the Lady Baron offense as a setter. “This is a key position on any team’s offense,” noted Herrmann, “and she will have a lot of weight on her shoulders. But I have tremendous confidence in Amy.”

With five incoming freshman players and one transfer student-athlete, the Lady Barons have a balanced and deep team this fall. Coach Herrmann knows that her team will continue to challenge one another to be better both on and off the court.

“We are going to do some different things both offensively and defensively that I think will really help us succeed,” she said. “Our team will always work very hard and love and support each other no matter if we are winning big or having a tough match.”

The Lady Barons take on Penn State Beaver for their first match September 3, and host their first home match September 14 versus Marietta College.