United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Volleyball

Coast Guard will try to make it a lucky seven in the 2008 season as the Bears look to earn their seventh straight trip to postseason play.

Last year, Coast Guard was 22-7 overall and 6-3 in the tough New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and earned a berth in the ECAC Tournament.

The Bears, who advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament in 2006, must replace one of the best players in program history, Corinne McCormack, who led the Bears to a 102-18 mark over the past four years.

McCormack, a two-time honorable mention All-America selection and the 2004 AVCA National Rookie of the Year, is the Bears all time leader with 292 aces and is second all-time at the Academy with 1,528 kills.

The Bears lose an All-American, but return another in senior co-captain Nicole Gurr, who is back at middle blocker after earning All-America honors for the second straight season a year ago. Gurr led the NEWMAC with 4.88 kills per game and had 454 kills last season. Gurr has 1,421 career kills, which is third on the Bears all-time list, just 326 behind all-time leader Katie Johann (‘02), who has 1,747.

Senior co-captain Mary Bitzer, who was one of the Bears most consistent hitters last season, returns at outside hitter while junior Courtney Wolf, who led the team with 72 blocks last season, is back as a middle blocker.

Junior Carin Sweeney, a very athletic and versatile player, will see time at outside hitter and right side hitter after appearing in 58 games last season. Sophomore Heather Watka, who appeared in just one game last season, has been the biggest surprise of the preseason after working very hard in the offseason and will see plenty of time this year. Sophomore setter Ashley Bullard, who started over half the games last year also returns. Sophomore Jessica Anderson will be the new libero this season replacing Megan Durbin.

Coast Guard also has a very solid freshman class led by Nicole Black and Nicole Johnson, who have both battled injuries in preseason. Freshman Kiley Johnson and Katharine Martorelli are also expected to make immediate contributions this season.

The Bears have upgraded their non-conference schedule with the likes of #18 Haverford, Brandeis, Colby-Sawyer and Tufts to prepare them for the challenging conference schedule and a possible postseason berth.

“This team has a strong tradition of winning which was upheld by Corinne McCormack and her classmates and this group plans on keeping that tradition going for years to come,” said head coach Rob Mullowney.