Freedom Conference Release / 2010 Schedule / 2010 Roster

WILKES-BARRE –Wilkes University has been picked to finish fourth in the Freedom Conference volleyball standings in a poll voted on by the coaches, it was announced Wednesday.

The Lady Colonels earned 31 points in the voting after finishing fourth in the conference with a 5-3 record (16-12 overall) in 2009. Two-time defending champion Eastern came in first, getting all eight first place votes, with DeSales second and FDU-Florham third. King's was chosen to place fifth, with Misericordia, Delaware Valley and Manhattanville rounding out the rest of the conference.

Leading the offensive attack for Wilkes this season will be senior Marissa Harrison (Shavertown, Lake-Lehman), a first team All-Freedom selection each of the past two seasons. Harrison broke the school record for kills in a season with 402 in 2009 and is 241 shy of the Wilkes career record with 968 entering the season. Juniors Kate McGurk (Swarthmore, Ridley) and Emily DeBuck (Pine Island, NY, Warwick Valley) will help Harrison at the net, as they combined for 380 kills last year.

Allison Kelleher (Sayre, Athens Area), the program's all-time career digs leader with 1,402, returns for her senior season to anchor the defensive effort. Her 512 digs last season for the Lady Colonels was a single season school record, while also adding 17 service aces. Senior Meaghan Williams (Hamlin, Western Wayne) will patrol the net again this year, as she was second on the team with 43 total blocks last season.

The Lady Colonels begin their season on Wednesday, September 1 against Scranton. Start time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Marts Center. 


2010 Freedom Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Eastern 49 pts. (8)
2. DeSales 42 pts.
3. FDU-Florham 37 pts.
4. Wilkes 31 pts.
5. King's 23 pts.
6. Misericordia 20 pts.
7. Delaware Valley 13 pts.
8. Manhattanville 9 pts.

(#) denotes fist place votes