Philadelphia, Pa. – (8/31/2018) – Now under new management, in two-time Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Coach of the Year (2015, 2017) Tim Moyer, the Chestnut Hill College women's volleyball team looks forward to an improved offense and a return to the league's Championship Tournament. "A new coach, a new attitude," proclaimed Coach Moyer. "We are working on being more consistent than last year and some key returners are working hard to make the changes necessary to make a playoff run this season." Moyer, who compiled a 76-17 (.817) overall mark and a 52-5 (.912) CACC standing in just three seasons at local league rival at Jefferson, has identified senior setter Kennedy Sutton (Chesapeake, Va.) and junior middle hitter Cassie Callahan (St. Louis, Mo.) as the Griffins' captains for 2018; a season in which the Scarlet and Gold will aim to return to the CACC Championship Tournament.
 
Last year, Chestnut Hill College battled through another arduous season in a deep CACC South Division. The result was a 9-22 overall record and an 8-11 league standing that included a pair of noteworthy wins over first place squads; Moyer's own Lady Rams (W, 3-1; 25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 25-14 on October 3) and Post University (W, 3-1; 24-26, 25-15, 25-16, 25-22 on November 4), a 4-1 mid-October run, and All-CACC performances from libero Peyton Reno '18 and Sutton. Sutton recorded her 2,000^th collegiate set before finishing the year third in the CACC for assists and fifth in assists-per-set (7.88).
 
As a three-year starter for the Griffins, Sutton has established herself as one of the CACC's top playmakers. Coach Moyer aims to help her become the best and she will have plenty of targets to locate with three 200-kill teammates in sophomore outside hitter Corrine Kalala (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) (245 kills), junior outside hitter Reily Byxbee (Madison, Conn.) (236), and Callahan (201). Kalala led the Scarlet and Gold in points (275.5) pairing 51 blocks with her team-high 245 kills. Byxbee was not far behind, adding 23 aces and 17 blocks to her 236 kills.
 
Byxbee was also one of six Griffins with 20 aces or more in 2017; a strength that Coach Moyer has quickly identified, "We are a strong serving and defensive team, if we can develop our offense we will be a challenge for any team in the CACC." Junior defensive specialist Kara Turtzer (La Habra Heights, Calif.) was a big contributor to both of the Griffins' strengths totaling a team-high 32 aces and 212 digs. She and junior Janie Green (Hayes, Va.) will captain the defense, taking over for Reno as Chestnut Hill College's liberoes. Another major piece to the defense is sophomore middle blocker Ragen Baldwin (Lancaster, Pa.), who will look improve her team-high 56 blocks, as well as, her 119 kills. Her classmates, right side Mykayla Milchling (Baltimore, Md.) and Shaina Franklin (Yorktown, Va.) will see their time in the rotation as well.

The Scarlet and Gold's newcomers total three; freshman defensive specialist Venessa Caballero (San Dimas, Calif.), freshman right side Lauren Lipinski (Gilbert, Ariz.), and defensive specialist Kerri Sullivan (West Brandywine, Pa.). The group will help provide depth as they find their place in Coach Moyer's game plan; a left-handed striker, Lipinski should make an early impact and should factor into the starting lineup.
 
Chestnut Hill College begins their postseason mission tomorrow, Saturday, October 1, when they host American International College (12:00 p.m.) and Mercy College (4:00 p.m.) in a season opening tri-match.