GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's volleyball team makes their return to the court on Friday (Sept. 3) afternoon in Pennsylvania, taking part in a two-day tournament.
The 2021 fall season will feature 23 matches, including 18 against South Atlantic Conference foes. Third-year head coach Danielle Marante returns 15 student-athletes from last season's resilient 2-4 (2-3 SAC) squad. The fall 2020 schedule was abbreviated to conference-only competition and postponed to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marante has also added 11 newcomers, including one transfer, to finalize her experienced roster.
THIS WEEK
The Pioneers are set to open their fall campaign at a tournament hosted by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. At the IUP Invitational, TU will face four unfamiliar opponents, seeing the quartet for the first time in program history.
IUP, a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, did not play last season as the PSAC announced the cancellation of fall sports. Thus, the 2021 schedule will be the first under a new coaching staff.
Also PSAC-affiliated, Shepherd women's volleyball had its season canceled. In 2019, Shepherd reached the Division II Atlantic Region semifinals to end its season at 29-7 (14-5 PSAC).
Frostburg State is entering just its third year at the Division II level and second season under its current head coach. Like the SAC, the Mountain East Conference played a league-only schedule, in which the Bobcats went winless in 10 tries.
Ohio Dominican also played a conference-only spring season against Great Midwest foes, finishing with a 7-5 record in their head coach's first year at ODU. The Panthers garnered their first winning season since 2015 and first league tournament since 2014.
MEET THE TEAM
In the recently announced SAC Preseason All-Conference teams, Peyton Gash and Carli Pigza earned second team honors.
Gash, a Lexington, Ky. native, played in all of the Pioneers' 19 sets during her first collegiate season. The right side hitter finished the spring season with a team-high 54 kills on a .281 percentage, 135 attempts, six digs, and seven block assists. Gash piled up a season-best 11 kills twice, three digs in her debut, and a pair of block assists in two matches. She collected All-SAC Honorable Mention and All-Freshman Team honors to cap off her season, along with TU Athletic Director's Honor Roll as a sport management major.
Pigza, a Fort Mill, S.C. resident, played in every possible set during her junior campaign as well. Also a right side hitter, Pigza was second on the team with 41 kills, while adding a team-high 18 total blocks, 17 digs, and a pair of assists. She landed 11 kills twice, recorded six digs, and is credited with five total blocks (two solo, three assists) as her match-highs. The art major has earned back-to-back Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards (D2 ADA), in addition to SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and TU Athletic Director's Honor Roll recognitions for her performance in the classroom.
Joining the duo are 13 returners.
Emiah Burrowes (Wesley Chapel, N.C.) enters her junior season ranked third in the TU record book across both career kills per set (3.24) and attempts per set (9.03) categories. The 5-9 outside hitter was named to the spring preseason all-conference team and notched 42 digs (second-most on the team), 30 kills, seven total blocks, and four assists in 18 sets played. The psychology major has earned SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and TU Athletic Director's Honor Roll laurels for her academic performance.
Sydney Byrd (Bluff City, Tenn.) played sparingly in the spring season, seeing action in four sets across three matches. The 5-11 right side hitter has earned numerous academic accolades as an exercise science major and will graduate early.
Going into her junior season, Elise Carmichael ranks eighth in the program records for career assists per set (6.11). The spring, which featured a two-setter system, the 5-7 Avon, Indiana native dished out a team-best 99 assists, 25 digs, two aces, and one kill. The business management major was named to both honor rolls and the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award.
Raven Chance (Leoma, Tenn.) played in nine sets during her freshman campaign, totaling 11 kills, eight total blocks, and one dig. The 6-2 middle blocker/right side hitter's debut featured six kills and four blocks (one solo, three assists). The sport science major was on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Catherine Clingan (Franklin, Tenn.) was the second setter in the spring rotation, compiling 47 assists (second-most on the team), 26 digs, a team-high eight aces, and one kill across 13 sets. Clingan, a 5-9 senior, has earned back-to-back D2 ADA academic laurels, along with both SAC and TU honor rolls as an accounting major.
Lydia Collins (Knoxville, Tenn.) is a 6-0 middle blocker for the Pioneers. After missing the 2019 season due to injury, she bounced back to play in 13 sets across five matches. The senior sport science major was second on the team with 10 total blocks (all assists), seven kills, six digs, and three aces.
Abbie Holt (Sunrise, Fla.) appeared in three sets during her inaugural campaign as a 5-8 setter. The sport science major is credited with six digs in her two matches.
Camryn Hughes (Charleston, W.Va.) made her collegiate debut as an outside hitter/defensive specialist in the regular season finale. In two sets, the 5-10 sport management major recorded three digs and one kill.
Kyndall Kalb, a 5-9 outside hitter from Summerfield, Fla., played in seven sets across three matches during her freshman season. She totaled 16 digs, four kills, one assist, and one block assist. The business administration major was listed on the TU Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Natasha Mazzone (Chicago, Ill.) appeared in six sets and two matches as a 5-8 setter/defensive specialist. As a freshman, she collected 17 assists, two digs, and one service ace, all coming in the SAC Tournament quarterfinal match. The criminal justice major was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Bailey Parker played in the final three matches of her inaugural campaign. The 6-2 middle blocker from Gainesville, Florida compiled 16 kills, eight total blocks, and three digs through the 10 sets. Parker is majoring in business - entrepreneurship and was on the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
Morgan Smith, a 5-9 right side hitter from Elizabethton, Tennessee did not see the court during her first collegiate season. The accounting major will battle for playing time this fall.
Carly Sosnowski has been the starting libero since stepping foot on the Greeneville campus two years ago. The back-to-back team MVP enters the season ranked third throughout program history in career digs per set (4.68). Sosnowski, a 5-3 Oxford, Fla. native, played in all 19 sets during the spring, racking up a team-best 76 digs, 15 digs, two aces, and one kill. Sosnowski is enrolled in the masters in sport administration program after graduating from TU with a psychology - behavioral health degree in May. She has collected consecutive D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards, along with conference and athletic department honors.
New to the program, but not college volleyball, are Emma Johnson and Raeley Matthews.
Johnson is a familiar face on the Tusculum campus as she has been a member of the beach volleyball team for two seasons. The 6-2 middle blocker/outside hitter from Helena, Alabama has an 11-15 record in the sand, playing nearly every match at the top flight. Johnson is a member of the TU Athletic Director's Honor Roll as a business major.
Matthews (Okeechobee, Fla.) comes to Greeneville by way of Florida Southern College, where she amassed 121 kills, 151 digs, and 13 blocks. The 6-0 junior outside hitter also racked up 870 kills, 505 digs, and 45 blocks while at Lake Placid High School. The criminal justice major won consecutive district championships from 2014-19 on the court and was a four-sport athlete.
Nine freshmen will vie for playing time in their first season as collegiate student-athletes.
Madison Adkins, a 6-0 setter from Olive Hill, Ky., was a part of a dominant West Carter High School squad for four seasons. A four-time All-Area mention, she was a member of the Comets' All-A region championships every season. Additionally, Adkins was a 2019 district champion and 2020 KVCA All-State honorable mention. In 2020, she played in 79 sets across 22 matches, racking up 540 assists, 223 digs, 94 kills, 75 service aces, and 41 total blocks. Adkins also played for River Cities Volleyball Club and Putnam Volleyball Club. Academically, the biology major was a Distinguished Scholar and on the A Honor Roll.
A 5-5 defensive specialist from Greeneville, Jules Aiken played for the local Greene Devils. She was a two-sport athlete (volleyball and tennis) in high school, but also plans to play beach volleyball at TU. Last season, Aiken collected district first team, tournament, region, and state honors. The psychology major racked up three conference and district championships and one regional title.
Amiranee Au. a 5-3 libero/defensive specialist from Knoxville, Tenn., graduated from Farragut High School, where she is credited with 421 digs across 91 sets. During her final year, Au was the team MVP, all-district second team, and on the Under Armour All-American Watch List. The political science major was a district champion and regional runner-up.
Lauren Collins is a 5-9 defensive specialist/libero from Knoxville, Tenn. She was a part of The King's Academy squad alongside her TU teammate and sister Lydia. The younger Collins played five years on the varsity level, racking up district and regional championships. She also holds the school record for career service aces.
Maddie Creswell, a 5-3 setter from Seymour, Tenn., was a member of the 2020 All-District and All-Region team at her hometown high school. In 2019, she was named to the District 2A, District 2A All-Tournament, and IMAC All-District teams for the Eagles. Creswell accumulated 480 assists, 175 digs, and 30 service aces during her senior season. Her travel teams have included AHAVA 18U National, K2 17-3 Elite, Club Unite 16U Premier, and Club Unite 15U Premier. The biology major maintained a 4.0 GPA in addition to being a member of the National Honor Society and National Beta Club.
Jamianne Foster, a 5-10 right side hitter from Hickory, N.C., graduated from Fred T. Foard High School as a back-to-back N.C. 2A state champion. The three-time conference title winner totaled 135 kills, 48 block assists, and four solo blocks in 2019. A multi-year captain in club ball, the business management major played for Carolina Select and Carolina Union Volleyball Club.
Piper Howell, a 5-6 defensive specialist from Penhook, Va., reached districts in 2020 with Stone Bridge High School. The computer science major was on the honor roll. Howell is also a member of the TU beach volleyball team.
Katie McLamb, a 5-10 outside hitter from Stem, N.C., was a three-time MVP and all-conference honoree. The elementary education major finished her Voyager Academy career with 845 kills. McLamb will join three teammates in the sand as well as on the court.
Lauren Patterson, a 5-10 outside hitter from Seymour, Tenn., had a stellar career at Seymour High School. Her accolades are numerous, but include: three-time All-District 2A and All-Tournament team, 2020 District 2A Hitter of the Year, 2019 2A Player of the Year, 2018 District 2A Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Region 1A, twice on the All-5Star Preps Team and All-PrepXtra Team, PrepXtra Player of the Week, and 2019 Ultra Ankle JVA Watch List. Patterson also played for K2 Volleyball and AVAHA. Academically, the psychology major was in the Beta Club all four years and in the National Honor Society. Patterson intends to be on the TU track team (high jump and sprints) as well.
