Listen to Head Coach Eric Schaefer Interview
View Photo Gallery
RADNOR, Pa. - The Cabrini volleyball team returned to the Nerney Field House hardwood this morning for the start of preseason practice in preparation for the 2010 campaign. In 2009, the Cavaliers captured the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
“We had a great, great first day of practice,” said fourth-year head coach Eric Schaefer. “The team came out with so much energy and so much determination to just compete against one another, and that’s what we need right now.”
Cabrini loses three seniors from a 24-win team last season. However, Schaefer, the 2009 CSAC Coach of the Year, will have the luxury of relying on a strong nucleus of veterans led by senior middle Stephanie Recklau.
Recklau tallied a team-best 256 kills and 100 total blocks last season en route to CSAC Player of the Year and First Team recognition. She begins her final season with the Blue & White with 736 career kills.
Junior libero Courtney Abel is also back in the fold for the Cavaliers in 2010. Abel anchored the Cabrini backline last season, leading the club with 458 digs.
Junior outside hitter Alexis Doss (200 kills, 240 digs) and sophomore outside hitter Megan Ryan (184 kills, 176 digs) also return for the Blue & White in 2010.
“It’s really going to be a team effort as far as our upperclassmen,” Schaefer said. “We have a great group of veterans who are going to work and talk with our freshmen to make sure they get caught up as quickly as possible.”
The Cavaliers went an unbeaten through 11 matches in the regular season versus CSAC opponents last year. Including the postseason, Cabrini owned a 13-0 mark in conference.
In fact, the Cavaliers won 10 straight heading into the NCAA Tournament. Of those 10 matches, Cabrini rolled to 3-0 victories in nine.
This season, the Blue & White will have to make an adjustment that is all very new to the program – keeping the defense of the CSAC crown on its mind.
“Well, there’s no question that we have the bulls-eye on our back and every team in the conference has gotten better,” Schaefer said. “We won’t be able to replace the leadership and drive from the seniors we lost from last season. But, with our returners and the group we have coming in, I think we’ll have a chance to compete for the championship again.”