STORYLINE
The Bloomsburg University women's volleyball team, 6-22 in its inaugural year of 2018, will open the 2019 campaign on Friday, September 6, and Saturday, September 7, at the Ashland University Tournament in Ashland, Ohio. The Huskies will play both Fairmont State (W. Va.) and Felician University (N.J.) Friday before concluding the tournament Saturday against Notre Dame College (OH) and the host team, Ashland.
NEW LOOK
With the addition of Shepherd to the PSAC, the sport of volleyball restructured its divisions. The Central Division will consist of East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven while the Northwest Division features five teams - Gannon, Clarion, Edinboro, Mercyhurst, and Slippery Rock. The Southwest Division boasts Seton Hill, Pitt-Johnstown, Cal U, and IUP, and the Southeast Division will consist of Shippensburg, Shepherd, Millersville, and West Chester.
The four division winners will earn an automatic bid to the PSAC Volleyball Championship while the next four best records will earn at-large spots.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Huskies lost to Notre Dame College in straight sets last September at the California (Pa) Tournament. Bloomsburg has yet to play Fairmont State, Felician, and Ashland.
PRESEASON POLLS
Bloomsburg was picked to finish third in the PSAC Central Division as voted on by the league's head coaches. Ashland, meanwhile, is among "Others Receiving Votes" in the 2019 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) DII Preseason Poll.
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SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
Bloomsburg is coming off of a 6-22 overall record in its first campaign. Two of the six victories were conference wins as the Huskies knocked off Kutztown and Lock Haven. Junior
Alyssa Cianciulli (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II) returns after finishing second in the PSAC, and fifth in the country, in digs per set (6.79). The Huskies will also return their leader in blocks from a year ago – sophomore
Grace Giza (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) – who finished with 51 total blocks (0.68 per set) in her first season. Sophomore
Mary Kate Mooney (Royersford, Pa./Pope John Paul II) (203 kills, 231 digs), Giza (122 kills, 51 blocks), sophomore
Mia Nicholes (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) (120 kills, 46 blocks), and sophomore
Sydney Buell (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) (66 kills, 1.78 kills per set) should help shoulder the load offensively while sophomore
Bryn Stek (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) returns to compete for the starting setter position after taking over the role towards the end of the 2018 season.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Fairmount State finished 13-17 last season and Felician ended 13-18. Notre Dame College also ended the season under .500 at 16-17 while host Ashland would wind up 2018 with a 25-7 record and a trip to the NCAA tournament where it fell three sets to two against Ferris State in the opening round of the postseason.
UP NEXT
Bloomsburg will travel to Waterbury, Connecticut, to compete at the Post University Tournament next Friday and Saturday, September 14 and 15.
