ESU Men's Volleyball Team Preview

 

East Stroudsburg, Pa. - With a strong group of seniors and more size inside, Coach John Greenlee thinks his 2002 East Stroudsburg men's volleyball team can challenge for the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Hay Division title.

At a Glance
Site of Home Matches: Le Roy J. Koehler Fieldhouse (2,000)
Affiliation: NCAA Division II, ECAC
Conference: Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Tait Division
Enrollment: 5,996 (4,927 Undergraduates)
Head Coach: John Greenlee
Assistant Coach: Tom Shaver
2001 EIVA Record/Finish: 6-6/Tie 3rd
Letter-Winners Back: 7, Lost 2
Starters Back: 4 (plus libero); Lost 2
The Warriors finished third in the division last year with a 6-6 record, but lost five matches by 3-2 scores. They were 10-10 overall. "We should be improved. We have a number of talented players who have two or three years in the program and are determined to make this season, in many cases their last, successful," said Greenlee. Returning are four starters along with libero Brian Harvey, who led all NCAA Division I-II players in digs last season with 264 in 80 games for an average of 3.30 per game. He also will serve as the team's back-up setter.

The starting setter will be senior Chris James, who averaged 11.48 assists per game with 907 assists in 79 games last year. He has made giant strides during his career, according to Greenlee, and now sees the whole court better which enables him distribute the ball to open teammates and avoid opponents' blocks. He will be setting the ball primarily to 6-3 senior Mike Messinger and 6-0 junior Dustin Wood, both returning starters.

Messinger, a three-year regular, led the team in kills last year with 232 for an average of 3.57 per game. He had a .315 hitting average. He is a lefthander who confuses opponents with his ability to hit from different angles on the court. Wood is a versatile player who is considered one of the team's best passers and also is an excellent server and strong hitter. He was third on the team in kills last season with 224 for 3.07 per game. He also led the squad in service aces with 20. Jarrett Merkel, a 6-4 junior, returns at a middle blocker position. He was second on the team in blocks with 76 or 0.94 per game.

There are three other returning players who saw action last year in junior defensive specialist Josh Farmer, 6-1 sophomore outside hitter Ty Zurn and 6-1 senior outside hitter Ryan Peters. Two newcomers, 6-5 Mike Collins and 6-0 Mark Hilinski both are expected to see immediate playing time. Collins, a former ESU basketball starter who played volleyball in high school, has great jumping ability and will give the team one of its biggest blockers ever in the middle. Hilinski, an Air Force veteran, is an experienced all-around player who passes well and plays strong defense.

Top contenders for back-up action will include freshman outside hitters Scott Hibbs and Jon Stellefson and middle blockers 6-2 Eric McGuiney, a sophomore, and 6-3 Nick Marshall, a freshman. The Warriors will open their season in the D'Youville Tournament Jan. 19-20. They will play 21 dual matches including an away match at Penn State.

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