WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – A new era in William & Mary volleyball starts on Friday as first-year head coach
Tim Doyle leads the Tribe into the Wildcat Classic hosted by Davidson this weekend. The Tribe faces Marist on Friday, Aug. 24 at 4:30, before concluding the season opening tournament on Saturday, Aug. 25 against Central Arkansas (10 am) and Davidson (6 pm).
Scouting the Tribe
The Green and Gold brings a lot youth and excitement to the 2018 season as nine of its 14 players are freshman and sophomores. The previous season served as a great teaching tool with seven of the returners appeared in at least 24 matches. Furthermore, the returning unit accounted for 77 percent of the offensive production last year. The Tribe brought back its top blocker in 2017 CAA All-Rookie pick
Julia Brown (0.93 per set) and assist leader junior
Autumn Brenner (5.57 per set). Sophomore
Kate Dedrick recorded the second-most kills (2.09 per set).
Scouting the Red Foxes
Marist looks to take the next step this year after making a semifinal appearance in the 2017 MAAC Tournament. Predicted to finish third in the MACC preseason poll, the Red Foxes return their top hitter and setter. Junior Nikki DeSerpa was named to the preseason All-Conference team, averaging 3.28 kills per set last year. Senior Taylor Van Der Biezen is coming off a banner season, distributing 1,044 assists.
Scouting the Bears
Central Arkansas enters the new year as Southland Conference defending champions. The Bears accomplished 27 wins en route to claiming an NCAA Tournament berth and return all but one player from last year's squad. The UCA roster is headlined by preseason All-Conference honorees Samantha Anderson and Elizabeth Armstrong. Anderson led the Bears in kills (3.29 per set) and was second-best in blocks (0.94 per set) last season. The 2017 Southland Conference Tournament MVP, Armstrong topped the league in assists with 10.62 per set (1,242 total).
Scouting the Wildcats
Davidson seeks to bounce back from a lack luster season, finishing 10-17 overall and 3-11 in the Atlantic-10. The Wildcats will be led by its seniors Mason Rooney and Katharine Franz. Rooney ranked second in the nation with five triple doubles and added 10 double-double efforts. Franz was one of the most efficient hitters in the A-10 last years, pacing the team with a .284 attack rate. Davison also return a promising middle hitter in sophomore Ellie Crosley. Crosley was the second Wildcat to claim Atlantic 10 All-Rookie honors.
Series History vs. Marist
W&M and Marist will meet for only the second time in series history on Friday. The Tribe came out victorious with a 3-0 sweep during the meeting in 2003. Overall, the Tribe is undefeated against MAAC opponents at 5-0.
Series History vs. Central Arkansas
The Green and Gold will face off against UCA for the first time ever. It will also mark just the second time W&M competed against a program of the Southland Conference. The last occassion was in 1990 at New Orleans, which resulted in a 3-0 loss
Series History vs. Davidson
The Tribe will conclude the tournament with its seventh all-time meeting against Davidson. It's also the third consecutive year the programs will collide. W&M holds a 5-1 all-time series lead after the Wildcats claimed a 3-1 triumph last year. It's only the second time the matchup will take place on Davidson's home court.
Digging Doyle
The Tribe was able to nab a rising star in
Tim Doyle as he was selected to the 2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Thirty Under 30 list. Doyle built up quit the resume before accepting his first head coaching opportunity at W&M. In four years at VCU, he helped the program capture 80 wins and make a 2017 NCAA Tournament appearance. He also mentored 13 all-conference selections and saw five players sign professionally contracts during his six total years as an assistant. Additionally, Doyle bring Big Ten experience to Williamsburg following two years at Ohio State.
Sideline Help
Doyle brought in high caliber assistants to help steer the program in a new direction. His first hire was former VCU standout
Janelle Sykes. She recently competed abroad in Azerbaijan and Belgium. Sykes is one the most elite middle blockers in Rams' history, ranking second all-time in blocks per set (1.21) and fourth in total blocks (345).
Colby Arrington was the second hire and he brings a championship pedigree from James Madison. Arrington spent three years on the JMU staff serving in various roles, most recently as the volunteer assistant. He was also a key member of the JMU nationally-ranked men's club volleyball program.
The Newcomers
W&M brings in a group of six freshmen for the second consecutive season. The class comes from various parts of the country with two from Texas, one from Georgia and Colorado and a pair of in-state products. Pin hitters
Macy Cummings (Denver, Colo.),
Anne Louise Seekford (Leesburg, Va.),
Lauren Merrill (Plano, Texas) and
Claire Farrell (Alexandria, Va.) gives the Tribe depth at the outside. Middle blocker
Madeleine Bertz (Atlanta, Ga.) and setter
Zeyanna Dhalla (Freiendswood, Texas) are both capable of making immediate impacts.
