Philadelphia, Pa. - (8/29/2017) – Despite the graduation of a landmark senior class that included Emily Drew '17 (Top three all-time assists, 1,128), Emily Koehler '17 (Two-time All-CACC), Madison McBride '17 (All-time leader in kills (1,208) and attempts (4,360)), and Regina Trabosh '16 (Four-time All-CACC and 2015 CACC Defensive Player of the Year), Head Coach Kim Kolesnik and the Chestnut Hill College women's volleyball team are working hard toward back-to-back Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship Tournament appearances. To do so, the Griffins will need significant contributions from the entire roster.

 

Headlining that charge is junior setter Kennedy Sutton (Chesapeake, Va.), who earned All-CACC Third Team laurels as the league's highest scorer from that position; 95 kills, 23 aces, and 31 blocks for 135 points. Sutton will provide Chestnut Hill College (13-16, 11-8) with consistency and experience; two key essentials for the team's pivot. She is backed by freshman Shaina Franklin (Yortown, Va.), who will help her feed a young frontline that is anchored by senior captain Samantha Gelfan (Chandler, Ariz.) and features junior Emma Mull (Jeannette, Pa.), sophomores Cassie Callahan (St. Louis, Mo.) and Reily Byxbee (Madison, Conn.), and freshmen Ragen Baldwin (Lancaster, Pa.), Corrine Kalala (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Mykayla Milchling (Baltimore, Md.), and Ashley Petroski (Suffolk, Va.). Gelfan started 28 of 29 matches (29mp-28ms) at right side for the Scarlet and Gold last fall, amassing 214 kills on a .179 (214L-100E-638TA) hitting percentage and recording 61 blocks to place third on the team in points with 249.5. As freshmen, Byxbee and Callahan were significant contributors to the Griffins' playoff return. The former totaled 212.5 points, ranking fourth on the team in kills (181) and landed 22 aces, while the latter offered 88.0 points with 70 kills and 31 (5 solo, 26 assists) total blocks. Newcomers, Kalala and Baldwin have both demonstrated strong blocking this preseason; the former's ability to hit from pin to pin will also help diversify the offense.
 
Chestnut Hill College welcomes defensive maven, Trabosh to the coaching staff. Traditionally a defensive team, the Griffins look to senior Peyton Reno (Wilmington, Del.) and sophomores Janie Green (Hayes, Va.) and Kara Turtzer (La Habra Heights, Calif.) to make up for the loss of Trabosh's 2,535 career digs. Now a captain, Reno is expected to be a more consistent presence on the court, figuring into both the Griffins' passing and receiving game plans.

The Griffins tied for fourth in the South Division in the recently released 2017 CACC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, clearly placing a return to the CACC Championship Tournament on the line. The challenge to reach their goal begins on Friday, September 1, when Chestnut Hill College visits Molloy College for matches versus Merrimack College (5:00 p.m.) and the hosting Lions (7:00 p.m.).