Volleyball Travels To Rosemont In Season Opener
MEDIA, Pennsylvania -- After falling one victory short of capturing the PSUAC volleyball title during each of the last two seasons, Penn State Brandywine appears primed to return to Rec Hall in State College for a third-straight year to again challenge for the league crown.
A senior-laden team with six fourth-year student-athletes and nine returners overall highlight Head Coach Melissa Algeo's roster as she begins her sixth season with the Lions. All four of Brandywine's all-conference standouts return to the team, which set a school record with 21 victories in 2014.
Senior setter Miranda Biondi is a three-time, first-team all-PSUAC performer who finished last season as the national leader in aces. Biondi is on pace to accumulate over 2,000 assists during her career and would be the first Lion to accomplish the feat.
Brandywine's front line features five players who stand 5 feet 11 inches or taller, led by senior Nicole Costa, who earned her second first team all-PSUAC nod in 2014. Costa led the Lions and finished in the top five in the conference in both kills and blocks. She registered the final point of Brandywine's dramatic five-set victory over Penn State Mont Alto in the PSUAC semifinals, capping the Lions' nine-point rally during the fifth set to send Brandywine to the title match.
Senior libero Kim Russo is approaching 1,000 digs for her career after pacing the team with 312 a season ago. Classmate Kelsi Wiest added 156 digs and is one of six returners to register over 100 kills, along with fellow seniors Kirsten Jerla and Molly Nichols.
Sophomore Nikki Poissant contributed 185 kills, 304 assists and 175 digs en route to being named second team all-conference as a freshman, while classmate Melanie Kempf added 160 kills and 58 blocks. Juniors Emily Battista and Kelsey Zober also return to the squad, which features a five-player freshman class.
Brandywine opens the season with a non-league road match at Rosemont Tuesday night at 7:00 pm. The Lions begin their 16-match PSUAC schedule on Sept. 16 against Penn State York.
