by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information
September 4, 1999

Corsair volleyball team ready to move up the ladder within the Little East Conference

(Dartmouth, MA) - Two years removed from a winless season, UMass Dartmouth volleyball coach Rick Quintin begins his third season with a team headed in the right direction.

"I'm looking at this season and I'm also looking ahead to next year," Quintin said during the pre-season. "Most of my key players are sophomores and juniors and I hope to have them all back again. We've got depth and we've gained a lot of experience. I think we're ready to move up the ladder."

After missing out on a winning season in the final match of the 1997 season, Quintin's Corsairs climbed over the .500 mark a year ago with a 16-15 record. With the 1999 season set to begin with Little East Conference play on September 11, Quintin feels he has a team which is ready to move up in the LEC standings this season.

"The core of our offense is returning, although it's a little early to tell what is going to happen," said Quintin. "We've got a little more experience on offense, so I think we will improve in that area. With some key defensive players returning and some strong first-year players, our defensive game looks to be stronger as well."

Junior captain Amy Wilson (Dartmouth, MA), who is coming off a very impressive season as a sophomore, will lead UMass Dartmouth. One of six returning Corsairs from last season, Wilson was named to the 1998 Little East Conference First Team All-Star squad last year. She was the only player to crack the LEC all-star lineup from a team other than LEC champion Eastern Connecticut. Wilson ranked second in kills among LEC players last year, averaging 2.97 per game, while also ranking fifth in hitting percentage at .281.

"As the team captain, Amy is a natural leader on the court," said Quintin, who will be joined by assistant coach Denise Levesque this season. "She has great court sense and her ability to keep everyone together is very important. She is a leader in all areas of the game and she is a model for our younger players. Amy is a text book college volleyball player."

Five other experienced players, all of whom saw plenty of action last season, will join Wilson in the Corsairs' starting lineup. Sophomores Molly Dixon (Rochester, MA), Carla Ferreira (Marion, MA), Julie Calderone (Coventry, RI) and Alison Parker (Tewksbury, MA) will team up with junior Karyn Ferriera (Marion, MA) to give the Corsairs a formidable front line.

The Ferreira sisters teamed up to help UMass Dartmouth finish first in LEC blocks a year ago with an average of 3.28 blocks per game. Carla (1.88/game) and Karyn (1.43) finished first and second, respectively, in individual blocks within the LEC.

"The biggest challenge facing us this season will be finding a new starting setter," said Quintin.

The setter position will have to be filled by two important first-year players, Rayna Kenney (Lakeville, MA) and Hillary Dorgan (Fairhaven, MA). Quintin said both players have extensive experience at the setter position in successful high school programs.

"Both need to be re-trained, however, because they are coming from different setting systems in high school," Quintin said. "They have to adapt to our system and to our individual hitters. There is such a relationship between setters and hitters and developing that relationship takes time. "

Developing a new setter can be a process which takes several seasons admits Quintin, who has about two weeks to prepare for the beginning the 1999 season.

"This is a most dedicated bunch of women we've had at UMass Dartmouth since Ive been here," Quintin said. "With continued hard work and a little experience under our belt, this should prove to the most successful women's volleyball team in recent history.

Quintin and the Corsairs could not have picked a better time to move up in the LEC standings than this season. Although picked by LEC coaches during pre-season to finish sixth in the eight-team LEC, Quintin feels UMass Dartmouth has gaining respect around the conference and has a chance to make a major impact in the end of the year LEC Championship Tournament. For the first time this season, the LEC post-season champion will automatically qualify for the NCAA Division III tournament.

"Given the make up of our team and the fact that we're bringing along two new setters, I think its fair to say we will be a very different team a month into the season and even better by the end of the year," said Quintin. "Once we refine the roles we will be a strong team."

The Corsairs' 1999 season gets underway with a round of Little East Conference competition at UMass Boston on Sept. 10-11. The Corsairs will compete against Eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island College and the host Beacons from UMass Boston. UMass Dartmouth's home opener will be Sept. 14 in a non-conference matchup with Regis College. UMass Dartmouth will again play host to the UMass Dartmouth Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Tripp Center.

Entering his third season with the Corsairs, Quintin said his goals are to move up in the LEC standings, have a strong showing in the LEC championships and continue to change the image of UMass Dartmouth volleyball.