The volleyball team looks to improve on a tough season last year, suffering a 2-22 record (1-13 NE-10). Third-year head coach Keith Schoonover is excited about this year’s squad, which includes five new faces.

Captains

The team returns senior Alana McNeil (Lawrence, Mass.) as a second-year captain. McNeil, a middle hitter, led the team in kills (261), hitting percentage (.288), and kills per game (3.11) in 2006. McNeil also led the team in blocking with 56 blocks.

Junior Samantha Regan (Danville, N.H.) will join McNeil as a new captain. "Regan will anchor our back row this upcoming season," stated coach Schoonover, "and she will be counted on as an experienced player." Regan led the team in digs last season with 381, averaging 4.54 per game.

Returning Veterans

Jennifer Tougas (Glens Falls, N.Y.) returns for her senior year after leading the 2006 Hawks in service aces (34) and service aces per game (0.61), while two juniors round out the upperclassmen. Elizabeth Lonergan (S. Dennis, Mass.) returns as a versatile player seeing time in the front and back rows in 2006. Lonergan was second on the team in service percentage, posting a .370 mark, while classmate Kaitlyn Maciag (Gales Ferry, Conn.) led the team in service percentage with a .840 mark. Maciag will see time as an outside hitter this season.

Two sophomores, Kelly O’Dea (Andover, Mass.) and Heather Sherlock (No. Andover, Mass.), return as a setter and an outside hitter respectively. O’Dea takes over the starting setter role. "Kelly being our setter will be a big change from last season," denoted coach Schoonover, "and we are hoping she’s up to the challenge."

Newcomers

Five freshmen join the Hawks including Crystal Vaughn (Farmington, N.H.), who will contribute immediately as an outside hitter, and Stephanie Devlin (Middleton, Mass.), who will be looked to add blocking for the Hawks. Kelly Rudolph (Winter Park, Fla.) will mainly be a defensive specialist, while Ashley Hopkins (Wakefield, R.I.) and Lauryn McGonagle (Bourne, Mass.) will be looking to add power to the front row as outside hitters.