Volleyball begins season Friday with high hopes for another solid season
North Adams, MA- The MCLA Volleyball program will open up their 2018 season on Friday night when they head to Gordon for a tournament. The Trailblazers are attempting to get back into the mix of the MASCAC after appearing in the title game in two of the last three seasons. MCLA is coming off an 11-18 season a year ago that included a 4-3 mark in the conference.
Led by head coach Amanda Beckwith, the Trailblazers graduated three of their top offensive players from last season. MCLA will does have some experience returning however, primarily in the back line, as the Trailblazers could be a bit unsettled early on this season.
Beckwith does return Sara LaFreniere as the top returning attacker. LaFreniere amassed 134 kills last season and should see some increased attack as a junior. Fellow classmate Alyssa Keegan is also returning. The outside hitter collected 80 kills as a sophomore for MCLA.
What MCLA lacks in experience up front, they return a host of setters and defenders. Natasha Stewart notched a team best 287 assists last season as a first year player and returns. She added 205 digs on the season. Tessa Sestito amassed 121 assists last year, but only played in 15 matches due to injury. Also returning is Beatrice Lechler, who sat out last season with a knee injury. Prior to that, Lechler was the primary setter for MCLA and an asset on the back line.
Mackenna Jordan and Celine Manigbas will see action as defensive specialists in 2018. Both saw time last year and gained valuable experience for MCLA.
Beckwith has brought in five newcomers this season, all of which could make an impact immediately. Up front, Laiken Cornwell-L'Hote, Raegan Scattergood, and Kelsey LaFreniere will look to fill some gaps left by graduation. Madison Benlien and Ahna Schlaefer could see action on defense or will assist in setting up the offense.
Schedule
After the opening tournament this weekend, MCLA will continue their road trip on 9/4 when they take the short ride to Mount Holyoke before finally opening up in the Amsler Campus Center on September 6th with a non league matchup with Anna Maria. The Trailblazers head up to Castleton for another tri match on the 8th before opening up a stretch that will see MCLA play ten of their next 12 matches at home.
The home stand begins with a matchup against Framingham State (9/11) and then hosting a tri match on the 15th with Bay Path and Becker. Next up is a home matchup with New England College on the 19th before the Trailblazers will play their lone road tilt in the stretch when they head to Salem State on the 22nd. MCLA will also take on St. Joseph (CT) during their trip to Salem.
MCLA plays their next five games at home beginning with a MASCAC matchup with defending champion Worcester State on the 26th. They then host SVC on the 28th before bringing in October with a non league matchup with Sage (10/3). The Trailblazers will wrap up the home swing with a Tri Match on October 6th against Norwich and Lebanon Valley before closing up the homestand with an October 9th matchup with Westfield State.
While the homestand was lengthy, MCLA will finish up the season with six of their last seven matches on the road beginning at Bridgewater State on the 13th. A senior day home match with Fitchburg State awaits on the 17th before MCLA closes with with straight road dates.
On October 20th they head to Lasell for a tri match with Simmons. Just a few days later they head off to Cobleskill before closing the regular season on the 26th at Mass. Maritime. The MASCAC championship tournament begins the following week with the top six teams advancing.