2003 CUNYAC Women's Volleyball Preview

Hunter Pressed At The Top

Bronx, NY - Hunter College the seven-time defending CUNY Athletic Conference Champions, has been the most resilient program in CUNYAC history - in any sport - winning the conference tournament 16 out of the last 18 years. But this season the Hawks (22-22, 9-0), who are coming off of four straight NCAA appearances are without that one element that has always led them to the top perch - experience.

Fifth-year head coach Lauren Caiaccia has one of the best players in school history, Jezel Rodriguez (the NCAA career leader in service aces), on the sidelines as an assistant coach leaving the leadership role up for grabs as the Hawks try to extend their consecutive CUNYAC match winning streak past 81.

"This season will pose a challenge for us,” said Caiaccia. "We have a lot of young players who are going to have to blend as a team. We're going to need that strong leadership we've always had to succeed.”

Hunter's starting six will include sophomore all-stars S/OH Kimberly Zhu (Corona, NY) and MH Classic John (Brooklyn, NY), classmate OH Meital Ben-Tovim (Hod-Hasharon, Israel) and junior OH Ivana Ivkovic, who both improved consistently during the 2002 season and all-star junior Libero Beth Tuccillo (Brooklyn, NY) and the team's only senior S/OH Me Oak Place (Woodside, NY). A new face to watch out for is 5'11” freshman middle hitter Kalisha White (Newburgh, NY) who may step right into her position.

Last year's runner-up team Lehman College (18-5, 8-1) faces a similar situation as Hunter, having lost three seniors (Sakeena Esteves, Nerida Fortes, Madelayne Garcia) who earned nine CUNYAC all-star nods. But fourth-year head coach Soberky Garcia has five returning experienced players and a standout freshman.

"We're younger, but the cupboard is not bare,” said Garcia. "I expect us to compete for the title once again if the players can get accustomed to their new responsibilities.”

Junior setter Esmeralda Camacho (Moca, Domincan Republic) will lead the offense, passing again to senior OH Josenny Hidalgo (Bronx, NY), junior MH Shaunte Ruiz (Bronx, NY) and sophomore middle hitter Isabel Lorenzo (Bronx, NY). Freshman OPP Yaniza Delos Santos, out of Norman Thomas High School will also get many chances in Garcia's offense.

The expectations at City College (19-9, 7-2) are the same as last season, but hopefully the Beavers will not be limping by the time the championships roll around. Despite having the top hitter in Division III last season (.497 hitting percentage and 7.7 kills per game, which ranked her #1 and #2, respectively), junior Erja Vettenranta (Jurva, Finland) had to shoulder the entire load when all-star junior Catherine Martinez (Bronx, NY) and 6'1” junior MH Angelin Frias went down with season-ending injuries.

"Even with new young players on the team, I hope we can play more disciplined than in the past,” said fourth-year head coach Robert Pichardo. "We can have a solid all-around team because we have a great mixture of players this year.”

That mixture includes freshmen setter Viviana Cifuentes (Queens, NY) and 6'0” OPP Jacquelin Peralta (New York, NY). Peralta will definitely keep CCNY among the leaders in blocks, as the Beavers finished second in the nation at 4.02 per game. Plus, the added advantage for a CCNY championship run will be tournament setting; their own Nat Holman Gymnasium.

After appearing in the semifinals for the first time since 1999, second-year head coach Krishna Dass has Baruch College (9-12, 6-3) all revved up for the 2003 season. Dass, a two-time CUNYAC Tournament MVP at Hunter in the mid-nineties, returns five players who saw significant action last season and with the best recruiting class in the league.

"The team looks significantly stronger than last season. We are going to have a much quicker offense and we look better defensively. We have a championship caliber squad and that's our goal for the season.”

The Bearcats retain all-stars in sophomore setter Safia Mian (Fresh Meadows, NY) and junior OH Sadis Sequeira (Bronx, NY) along with senior OH Daphne Wong (Brooklyn, NY) and junior OH Susan Wu (Flushing, NY). Newcomers to the squad include 6'0” Jennifer O'Connor (Middle Village, NY) and 5'8” Latishea Pearson (St. Albans, NY) who transferred from Queensborough Community College and Adelphi University, respectively.

Another team with high expectations this season is John Jay College (14-14, 5-4). Sophomore Arelis Reyes (San Fransisco, Dominican Republic) returns to the Bloodhounds after a two-year layoff. The 5'4” outside hitter who was named CUNYAC Rookie of the Year in 2000 will lead second-year head coach Mamdouh Hassan's squad. The rest of Jay's main returnees are all upperclassmen including senior all-star OH Kerry Koslosky (Auburn, NE), senior setter Carmen Miranda (Bronx, NY) and junior hitters Beata Chojnowska (Lomza, Poland) and Aisha Carrion (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico).

As of now, John Jay is also the only CUNYAC school running a 6-2 offense, with the addition of sophomore setter Jessica Rosenberg from Rialto, California.

York College (8-16, 4-5) ended up in the middle of the pack last season, the third under head coach Andre Titus. This year, the Cardinals will be much younger boasting only two upperclassmen, senior S/OH Sheryl Bawayan (Woodhaven, NY) and junior MH Adriana Miseje (Queens, NY). Titus expects freshman Renee Thompson (Jamaica) to make an impact right away.

Medgar Evers College (15-21, 3-6) finished well last season with a 12-8 run after a 3-13 start to the season thanks to players like junior OH Shashima Chase (Brooklyn, NY) and senior setter L. Maria O'Neal, head coach Avril O'Neal's sister. "We were hurt by the loss of Wendy Pierre (a CUNYAC all-star),” said O'Neal. "We have a young team now, so we have different expectations and I hope that these ladies learn how to play the college game.”

New York City College of Technology (2-12, 1-8), under the direction of second-year coach Greg Nosarzewski, hopes to get into the CUNYAC Tournament behind returnees like senior OH Kerene Reeves (Brooklyn, NY), junior Hui Mei Lau (Queens, NY) and sophomore OH Sophia Burrell (Queens, NY). With two new setters on the slate, Nosarzewski expects the Yellow Jackets to be improved in 2003.

The College of Staten Island (2-18, 1-8) boasts a 15-player roster, but the team is young and being molded by a new coaching staff, as Associate athletic Director Jason Fein takes over the sidelines. Senior OH Giorgia Penso (Venice, Italy) and junior OH's Theresa Caputo (Staten Island, NY) and Melissa Quiles (Staten Island, NY) are the Dolphins leading returnees.

Brooklyn College (3-17, 1-8) will also have new leadership in 2003, as a former Bridges player, Danielle Madden takes over the team. Junior OH Tracy Altifois (Brooklyn, NY) will look to improve, while Madden welcomes a trio of skilled sisters from Queens - Tracy, Kim and Amy Rutter. Tracy and Kim have played at Staten Island for the past two seasons, while Amy is a true freshman.

Any way the regular season shakes out; it looks to be a fantastic tournament at City College on October 28th with the quarterfinals (starting at 5:00 pm). Unlike recent seasons, the schools have an added burden during the CUNYAC season, as only the top eight teams will qualify for the Tournament. The event will conclude on October 30th with the semifinals and championship match with play also starting at 5:00 pm. Also, for the first time ever, the final match will be broadcast on radio (WNYE 91.5 FM) and the winner will advance to the NCAA Championships for the fifth consecutive year. So we'll see you at the games!