2 0 10 R O S T E R No. Name 3 Olivia Parkins 4 *Trina Carroll 5 *Sarah Coscia 8 Ashley Kostka 9 Carolyn Eddy 12 Brooke Peterson 13 Jamie Muntz 16 *Kristina Wiltjer 20 *Lea Freeman 27 *Jillian Hadder 31 *Vicky Wong
Yr. Pos. Fr. S/OH Jr.. MH Sr. OH/MH Fr. DS Fr. S/OH Fr. OH Fr. MH So. S Jr. MH Sr. OH Sr. OH/L
Ht. 5-7 5-9 5-10 5-4 5-5 5-8 5-11 5-7 6-0 5-10 5-5
Hometown/High School Dracut, MA/Dracut Senior Hampton, NH/Winnacunnet Pittsfield, MA/Pittsfield Quincy, MA/North Quincy Dracut, MA/Central Catholic Del Mar, CA/Torrey Pines West Hartford, CN/Conard San Diego, CA/Chaparral Methuen, MA/Methuen Yucaipa, CA/Yucaipa Tewksbury, MA/Tewksbury Memorial
Head Coach: Karen McNulty (Boston College, 1985), 17th year Assistant Coaches: John Cody, Tara Conners
*Veterans (8)
UMass Lowell Quick Facts Location:........................................................................................................ Lowell, MA Enrollment:.............................................................................................................6,000 Founded:...................1975 (Merger of Lowell State and Lowell Technological Institute) President........................................................................................... Dr. Jack M. Wilson Chancellor:.......................................................................................... Martin T. Meehan Colors:..................................................................................Red, White and Royal Blue Nickname:...................................................................................................River Hawks Facility:...........................................................................................Costello Gymnasium Affiliation:.............................................................................................. NCAA Division II Conference:................................................................................................ Northeast-10 Director of Athletics:..............................................................................Dana K. Skinner Head Athletic Trainer:.................................................................................. Artie Poitras Head Coach:.........................................................................Karen McNulty (17th year) Overall Record........................................................................ 329-256 (.562), 16 years Record at UMass Lowell......................................................... 300-227 (.569), 14 years E-Mail:.....................................................................................karen_mcnulty@uml.edu Assistant Coaches: . .............................................................. John Cody, Tara Conners Volleyball Office Phone: ........................................................................ (978) 934-2319 Dir. of Athletic Media Relations:...................Chris O'Donnell • chris_odonnell@uml.edu Assistant Director:.............................................Sean Hladick • sean_hladick@uml.edu Athletic Media Relations Phone................................................... (978) 934-2306, 2351 Athletic Media Relations Fax:................................................................. (978) 934-2313
www.goriverhawks.com
2 0 10 O U T L O O K The last time volleyball echoed on the stage of Costello Gymnasium, the River Hawks hoisted the Northeast-10 Tournament Championship in celebration of one of the finest seasons in program history. With a new youthful cast looking to reprise the role of champions, UMass Lowell starts its 26 game audition on Saturday afternoon against a familiar co-star; the Merrimack Warriors. Despite the roster’s overall youth, the core of the 2009 squad remains with four starters returning for another quest for the crown. That nucleus features such commodities as 2009 NE-10 All-Conference First-Team and AVCA Division II All-East Region selection, Sarah Coscia (Pittsfield, Mass.), and 2008 All-Conference Third-Team member, Jillian Hadder (Yucaipa, Calif.). What the River Hawks lose are six graduating seniors that helped guide the experienced roster to a 22-10 record, the conference tournament championship and a berth into the NCAA Tournament. “We’ve talked about the fact that last season’s success has given us the expectation to perform and to win,” said head coach Karen McNulty. “However, we have to be aware that we’re not going to take anybody by surprise.” Now with five freshmen looking to contribute for substantial playing time, UMass Lowell will rely on its powerful offensive attack and athletic defense to make another run at post-season prominence. “Our expectations are as usual,” said McNulty. “To compete for the Northeast-10 Championship, compete to be in the conference tournament and qualify for the NCAA’s. We need to be patient with ourselves because we are inexperienced in key places and we’re not deep so everyone needs to stay healthy, but athletically we’re better than we have been in the past.” The Offense Despite the departure of perennial standout Elsa LeGrand, the River Hawk offense may prove to be the team’s greatest strength. After registering 1398 kills last season, fourth most in the NE-10, UMass Lowell returns over 72% of its offense. In all, the River Hawks return four of the five players that reached triple-digit kills in 2009. Among the keys to their offensive firepower, the River Hawks welcome back seniors Coscia and Hadder, who combined for 693 kills. Coscia aims to become to first player to record back-to-back seasons of 400 or more kills since Julie Handy tallied 432 and 573 in 2004-05. Likewise, Hadder has been a workhorse for the past three years, entering the season just two shy of 1000 career kills. A star on the court since her first match as a freshman in 2007, Hadder led UMass Lowell during her first two seasons with 378 and 337 kills, respectively. Not to be overlooked, the River Hawks also return senior Vicky Wong (Tewksbury, Mass.) and junior Lea Freeman (Methuen, Mass.) who amassed 191 and 126 kills, respectively. In addition, Wong acts as a duel threat on the attack after leading the team in service aces last season with 48.
Senior outside-hitter Jillian Hadder.
The Defense Perhaps the biggest turnover for UMass Lowell this season will come on the defensive side of the ball where the River Hawks lose the program’s second all-time blocks leader, LeGrand, and their primary passer, Allie Eide. A staple of the defense for the past four seasons, LeGrand averaged over 100 blocks a year. Looking to fill the void, Coscia emerged as a reliable power with a team-best 99 total blocks and will look for help from the athletic Freeman. Freeman tallied 34 and 48 blocks in limited playing time over her first two seasons and at six-feet tall, she possesses the physical tools to be a disruptive at the net front. “We lose experience defensively, but we have some talented players,” McNulty said. “Carolyn [Eddy] is very talented, Vicky [Wong] is a better player than she was last year and Hadder is still a mainstay. Sarah [Coscia] and Lea [Freeman] haven’t been asked to play middle-back that much, but if need be they are big people and cover a lot of territory. At first the inexperience might affect us, but I don’t think it will be an issue because of the Seniors Sarah Coscia and Vicky Wong. talent we possess.” A slight concern for the River Hawks will be replacing over 1000 digs that graduated with the senior class, including Eide’s team-high 435. Hadder and Wong both have a proven track record to step into the role, eclipsing 300 digs each last season, but the team will initially look towards its freshman class for production. Versatile high school setter Carolyn Eddy (Dracut, Mass.) will have an opportunity to earn major minutes if she can help shoulder the load. “Eddy’s primary role will be to pass,” said McNulty. “She looks good, is very strong and is in great shape. She played libero during the offseason and I think she’s is pretty prepared to step into the role.” Setting the Table For the first time since 2006 UMass Lowell will look to someone other than Nichole Rondeau to be its primary setter. Sophomore Kristina Wiltjer (Yucaipa, Calif.) will be handed the keys to one of the best attacks in the conference after working alongside Rondeau last season. “There’s a new quarterback,” McNulty said of Wiltjer. “She’s talented, she’s quick, but she is inexperienced. Hopefully the juniors who did well last year will do even better this year and will make up for what we lose in experience.” Wiltjer shined last season in her role as the back-up setter, running the offense efficiently in limited appearances. In 24 games played, Wiltjer compiled 48 assists—including 11 in a three-set loss to Bentley (9/23). Freshmen Eddy and Olivia Parkins (Dracut, Mass.) are expected to see time at setter as well, giving the River Hawks a bright future at such a crucial position on the court.
THE COACHING STAFF Head Coach Karen McNulty Karen McNulty enters her 17th year as head coach of the UMass Lowell volleyball program, guiding the River Hawks to a 300-227 overall record (.569) through the past 16 seasons. The 2009 and 2002 Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year, McNulty inherited the volleyball program in 1994 following a two-year head coaching stint at Northeastern. After posting a 29-39 record in her first two seasons with the River Hawks, she has guided UML to a 271-188 clip (.590), including eight 20-win seasons and the program's first six NCAA Tournament appearances (2000, 2002-05, 2009). A culmination of all her work, the River Hawks captured the program's first ever NE-10 Tournament Championship in 2009. In addition to posting a 22-10 record, McNulty was crowned as the conference's Coach of the Year while taking the program to its sixth NCAA Tournament. McNulty also led the River Hawks to second place in the NE-10 regular season in four of the last nine years. The 2003 season was especially sweet for McNulty and the River Hawks, who had graduated 70 percent of its offense and defense with the 2002 squad (25-11), but posted a 20-10 record and earned their third NCAA Tournament berth in four years. At Northeastern, McNulty posted a 29-29 twoyear clip which included a 16-10 showing in 1992. That year, the Huskies advanced to the North Atlantic Conference (now America East) Tournament. A four-year player at Boston College ('85), McNulty served as team captain as a senior and was the recipient of the BC Varsity Club Outstanding Senior Award. Upon graduation, McNulty served as head coach of the girls' team at her alma mater, Billerica High School, where she led the Indians to the Division I North Sectional finals and Merrimack Valley Conference title twice. In 1991, she was voted the Merrimack Valley Conference Coach of the Year. McNulty continues to give back to her sport. She served the 2005 season as the national chair for the NCAA Division II Volleyball Committee, the governing body that makes administrative decisions for the NCAA Tournament. She was also the committee chair for the NCAA Northeast Region for four years, and had previously served on the AVCA national rankings committee. McNulty has been a United States Volleyball Association (USVBA) player since 1986. A native of Billerica, MA, McNulty resides in Lowell, MA.
Assistant John Cody John Cody returns for his 14th season with the UMass Lowell volleyball program, his 37th year in coaching. Cody spent 25 years as the director of the Merrimack Valley Junior Olympic Volleyball Program, an instructional league which competes against other club teams in New England. He also served as the head coach at Stoneham H.S. in 1987-88 and at Holy Cross from 1989-96. A chemistry teacher for 37 years at Arlington H.S., Cody has been the head boys' tennis coach all 37 years, leading the Spy Ponders to 23 Greater Boston League championships. Cody resides in Chelmsford, MA, with his wife, Elizabeth. They have raised eight children, three of whom played volleyball at Division I universities.
Assistant Tara Conners A 1995 graduate of UMass Lowell, Tara Conners enters her fourth year on the UML staff. Conners served as the head coach at Endicott College for five years and has coached within the Massachusetts Junior Olympic program as well as several area camps and clinics. While at Endicott, Conners led the Gulls to their best record in school history (21-4). At UMass Lowell, Conners was a two-year captain and played a number of positions. Previously, she was a two-time conference all-star at Billerica H.S. Conners is an officer on the Billerica Police force, where she currently resides.
2 0 10 PLAYER PROFILES
Trina Carroll Hampton, N.H.
Sarah Coscia Pittsfield, Mass.
Carolyn Eddy Dracut, Mass.
Lea Freeman Methuen, Mass.
Jillian Hadder Yucaipa, Calif.
Ashley Kostka Quincy, Mass.
Jamie Muntz West Hartford, Conn.
Olivia Parkins Dracut, Mass.
Brooke Peterson Del Mar, Calif.
Kristina Wiltjer San Diego, Calif.
Vicky Wong Tewksbury, Mass.
2009 STATISTICS • RESULTS Player GP K-E-TA Att% A-APG SA-SE-PG D-DPG BS-BA-PG Sarah Coscia 117 411-113-914 .326 8-0.07 7-3-0.06 59-0.50 31-68-0.85 Elsa LeGrand 116 307-137-829 .205 26-0.22 29-17-0.25 182-1.57 14-80-0.81 Jillian Hadder 114 283-135-924 .160 23-0.20 32-30-0.28 324-2.84 4-46-0.44 Vicky Wong 113 191-107-586 .143 26-0.23 48-31-0.42 337-2.98 4-25-0.26 Lea Freeman 111 126-64-387 .160 46-0.41 0-1-0.00 45-0.41 4-44-0.43 Larissa Niu 23 14-4-44 .227 100-4.35 3-1-0.13 20-0.87 0-10-0.43 Catherine Harrington 4 2-0-2 1.000 0-0.00 0-1-0.00 0-0.00 1-0-0.25 Nichole Rondeau 114 41-14-174 .155 947-8.31 35-27-0.31 220-1.93 2-20-0.19 Allie Eide 117 15-13-80 .025 29-0.25 24-20-0.21 435-3.72 1-1-0.02 Kristina Wiltjer 24 3-2-7 .143 48-2.00 6-6-0.25 34-1.42 0-3-0.12 Christina Carroll 10 1-3-9 -.222 0-0.00 0-0-0.00 0-0.00 0-1-0.10 Ashlee Scott 102 4-6-23 -.087 9-0.94 36-20-0.35 151-1.48 0-0-0.00 Kasey Smith 51 1-1-6 .000 1-0.02 12-6-0.24 35-0.69 0-0-0.00 Stephanie Marshall 6 0-0-1 .000 1-0.17 0-0.00 4-0.67 0-0-0.00 UML TOTAL 117 1399-599-3986 .201 1264-10.80 232-163-1.98 1846-15.78 61-298-1.79
2009 Results (22-10, 11-4 Northeast-10) Date 8/28 8/29 9/4 9/4 9/5 9/5 9/8 9/10 9/12 9/12 9/16 9/23 9/26 9/26 9/29 10/3 10/4 10/7 10/10 10/10 10/16 10/17 10/21 10/23 10/30 10/31 11/3 11/6 11/13 11/14 11/14 11/19
Opponent !GANON !FRANKLIN PIECE @vs. Merrimack @at Bridgeport @vs. Caldwell @vs. Holy Family POST UNIVERSITY *at American International %vs. Georgian Court %vs. Bloomfield *at Saint Michael's *vs. Bentley *FRANKLIN PIERCE DOWLING COLLEGE *MERRIMACK *SAINT ROSE *LEMOYNE *at Stonehill College &vs. UPR-Mayaguez &at Queens College *NEW HAVEN *at So. Connecticut St. *SAINT ANSELM NYIT *at Adelphi *at Pace *at So. New Hampshire *ASSUMPTION #PACE #SO. CONNECTICUT ST. #ADELPHI $at Bridgeport
W/L L W L L W W W W L W W L W L W W W L W W L W W W L W W W W W W L
Score 0-3 3-2 1-3 1-3 3-1 3-0 3-0 3-0 2-3 3-0 3-1 0-3 3-0 0-3 3-1 3-0 3-0 2-3 3-1 3-1 0-3 3-1 3-0 3-1 1-3 3-1 3-0 3-0 3-1 3-1 3-2 0-3
Score By Game 21-25, 18-25, 21-25 21-25, 25-12, 25-23, 23-25, 15-11 20-25, 17-25, 25-15, 14-25 20-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-25 25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 25-16, 25-11, 25-17 25-1, 25-20, 25-11 25-20, 21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 13-15 25-14, 25-16, 25-18 25-17, 25-14, 20-25, 25-13 10-25, 18-25, 17-25 25-19, 25-15, 25-22 23-25, 23-25, 26-28 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-20 25-11, 25-14, 25-14 25-17, 25-19, 25-21 25-15, 25-16, 15-25, 21-25, 9-15 25-23, 18-25, 25-19, 26-24 23-25, 25-15, 25-10, 25-14 16-25, 24-26, 22-25 25-21, 25-27, 28-26, 25-14 25-11, 25-11, 25-12 26-24, 21-25, 25-19, 25-18 25-20, 14-25, 14-25, 19-25 23-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-16 25-16, 25-15, 25-23 25-15, 25-8, 25-18 25-18, 22-25, 25-15, 28-26 25-9, 22-25, 25-10, 25-13 23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 15-12 12-25, 16-25, 22-25
*Northeast-10 match; #Northeast-10 Tournament; $NCAA Tournament; !UMass Lowell Tournament; @Bridgeport Tournament; %Bentley Tournament; &Queens College Tournament; Home matches in CAPS
THE RECORD BOOKS Individual Records Games Played • Career • Season Kills • Career • Season
480 134
Katie Toomey, 1995-98 Liz Noble, 1996
1,897 573
Katie Toomey, 1995-98 Julie Handy, 2005 Katie Toomey
Blocks • Career • Season
414 145
Digs • Career • Season
1,773 562
Allie Eide, 2006-09 Erin Miller, 2002
Assists • Career • Season
4,812 1,569
Andrea Turner, 2000-03 Andrea Turner, 2002
Lauren Dufresne, 2001-04 Jamie Guyer, 2002
Service Aces • Career • Season
248 109
Michelle Roy, 1988-91 Sue Martin, 1990
Hitting Percentage • Career • Season
.337 .442
Katie Toomey, 1995-98 Cheryl Lauziere, 1984
Team Single Season Records Matches 45 1983 Wins 35 1990 Losses 22 2007 Fewest Wins 4 1978, 1979 Fewest Losses 6 1990 Kills 1,972 1996 Hitting Percentage .329 1984 (892-324--1,726) Assists 1,752 2002 Digs 2,809 2002 Blocks 316.5 2002
Lauren Dufresne
Erin Miller
Andrea Turner