After finishing 2009 with a 12-16 record the College of Staten Island’s volleyball team comes into 2010 with a handful of hope and positive changes. The team will kick off at 7:00 pm tonight against St. Joseph’s College-Patchogue in Long Island, New York.
CSI sees leadership from new head coach, five year assistant, Melissa Quiles. Also a former volleyball player of CSI, Quiles is excited to take over the position, “We have a brand new set of women who are determined and committed and that’s more than I could ask for.”
CUNYAC Softball All-Stars and serving as co-captains for volleyball are junior Danielle Ponsiglione, who ranked 35th amongst the NCAA National Statistical Leaders in service aces (.69 per set) and Joanna Tepedino who led the team in total kills (204) and blocks (17) last season.
Along with four returning players, seven newcomers including four freshman will be seen on the roster. Both freshman outside hitter/libero Diana Stout and Greece native Vasiliki Stergioula will be an asset to the starting line-up.
The team consists of players from other CSI teams; softball (Tracey Rooney and Kaitlyn Flynn), swimming (Priscilla Alvarez) and cross country (Lisa Lamanna), all with the heart of an athlete and the determination for winning.
The schedule this season consists of just four home games including their 3rd annual Serving for a Cure- Breast Cancer Awareness game on October 7th against St. Joseph’s College-Brooklyn.
The Dolphins next game will be the home-opener on Thursday, September 9th against William Paterson at 7:00 pm.