Philadelphia, Pa. - (9/1/2016) – A crescendo, a slowing building wave that transforms into an overwhelming tsunami as it crashes into shore, destroying all in its path and leaving a new landscape in its wake. "We have played our best volleyball in the middle of the season and come up short of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) playoffs the last couple years. This year we want to get better as the season goes on, reaching our best when it matters the most," summarized Head Coach Kim Kolesnik. Chestnut Hill College, who enters their ninth season under Head Coach Kim Kolesnik, were placed fifth in the CACC South Division on the recently released CACC Preseason Coaches Poll. With most of the 2015 roster returning, the addition of five gifted newcomers, and a different strategy, the Griffins look to prove the league wrong and return to postseason play for the first time since 2011.
 
Challenging themselves with a tough opening slate, Chestnut Hill College (11-21, 10-9) dropped their first nine matches of 2015. The first victory came at just the right time as a 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-17) win over Goldey-Beacom College, on September 17, earned the Griffins a CACC victory and ignited them on a 4-4 stretch that included additional league wins over Felician University (3-0; 27-25, 26-24, 25-20 on September 19) and Wilmington University (3-1; 25-23, 26-24, 20-25, 25-19 on September 23). The triumph over the Wildcats brought out the best in the Chestnut Hill College women's volleyball team, who earned their first victory over the Wildcats since 2011 and placed three student-athletes on the CACC Weekly Women's Volleyball Report (September 29). One of which was Rachel Biro '16, who showed the Griffins the way with 19 kills on a .405 hitting percentage (19K-2E-42TA), earning her a share of the league's Player of the Week title. Biro's crowning moment came the following week, as she joined Alexandra DePalma '14 on the Chestnut Hill College 1,000-kill banner with a 15-kill effort in the Griffins 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23) loss to Pace University on September 29. The emotional accomplishment spurred the Griffins for a succeeding 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22) win over the University of the Sciences on October 1, but that did not derail the roller-coaster ride as Chestnut Hill College's playoff fate came down to the final showdown with Holy Family University. One point away from forcing a winner-take-all fifth set, the Tigers clawed their way into the CACC Championship Tournament, clinching the fourth and final bid from the South Division with a 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-16, 26-24) verdict over Chestnut Hill College.
 
Much of the Griffins 2015 success and 2016 aspirations are rooted in the Scarlet and Gold's constrictive defense. A calling-card of Kolesnik's program, the defense will once again be captained by senior libero Regina Trabosh (Norristown, Pa.), who claimed the CACC Defensive Player of the Year (All-CACC First Team) title and a National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (CAA) Women's Volleyball All-East Region Second Team selection with a program-record 664 digs. She averaged 5.77 digs-per-set to lead the CACC in both categories and rank 6^th and 19^th in the NCAA, respectively. While all the Griffins will contribute to the defensive effort, significant contributions are expected from fellow All-CACC (Third Team) performer, senior middle hitter Emily Koehler (Bath, Pa.), freshmen middle hitters Cassie Callahan (Bridgeton, Mo.) and Chase Cooksey (Herndon, Va.), junior defensive specialist, and captain, Peyton Reno (Wilmington, Del.), and freshmen defensive specialists Kara Turtzer (La Habra Heights, Calif.) and Janie Green (Hayes, Va.). Koehler was a solid addition to the Griffin frontline in 2015, transferring from Northampton Community College to lead the team in hitting (.235, 218K-76E-603TA, 10^th in the CACC), solo blocks (18, T9^th), block assists (66, 11^th), and total blocks (84, 10^th).
 
Meanwhile, Reno enjoyed a solid sophomore season with 23 aces and 241 digs. Behind her, Turtzer, cousin of senior captain Madison McBride (Long Beach, Calif.), has shown tremendous court vision. Green, formerly of Hampton Roads Juniors Volleyball Club, is a fast and efficient defender who, like Reno, can also effect the game from the serve, consistently testing opponents with her accuracy from behind the backline. In the middle, Callahan and Cooksey will provide plenty of depth behind Koehler; Callahan, of Team Momentum Volleyball Club, offers length and blocking whereas, former Chantilly Juniors Volleyball Club member, Cooksey provides strength and versatility in her approach.
 
McBride, a three-year starting outside hitter who has amassed nearly 1,000 career kills (937 career kills), is expected to spearhead the Griffins' offensive efforts. She will get plenty of help from junior right side Samantha Gelfan (Chandler, Ariz.), sophomore outside hitters Samantha Smith (Harrisburg, Pa.) and Emma Mull (Jeannette, Pa.), and freshman outside hitter Reily Byxbee (Indianapolis, Ind.). Byxbee, recruited from Indy Juniors Volleyball Club, equips Chestnut Hill College with a strong attack from the left side; much like Biro, who led the Griffins in kills (764) and points (810.0) over the last two seasons before retiring as the program all-time producer (1,194 kills, 171 block assists, and 1,331.5 points).
 
Quarterbacking the Griffin's offensive game plan is sophomore Kennedy Sutton (Chesapeake, Va.) and senior Emily Drew (Ringoes, N.J.), who will combine for an experienced setting duo. Sutton set a program record with 883 assists (7.75 assists/set) over the course of 32 matches (32mp-28ms). She also recorded 75 kills, 230 digs, 32 blocks, and a team-high 37 aces in an impressive freshman campaign. Drew enter her senior season second all-time in assists (1,087) and first all-time in assists-per-set (7.76).
 
"We excel at defense and serve receive. We will continue to be a strong passing team that plays a very tough defense. With our young additions we will only get stronger." The Scarlet and Gold will begin to prove their coach right this Friday, September 2, when they open the season with a pair of matches opposite Southern New Hampshire University (5:00 p.m.) and the hosting Lions (7:00 p.m.) at the Molloy College Invitational.