Season Preview: Salisbury looks to spike its way back into NCAA tournament

SALISBURY, Md. – The 2010 Salisbury University volleyball team can dig it. After the program's deepest-ever NCAA tournament run last year, the Sea Gulls are highly motivated and ready to punch their ticket to the championships. This year's squad, one of the youngest in recent memory, saw three of its seniors graduate in May 2010; 11 of the 14 members of the team are underclassmen. Head Coach and SU alumna Margie Knight, who enters her 14th season coaching the team this year, sees the team's youth as an advantage. "Our sophomores who didn't get a lot of playing time last year will step up," said Knight. "We don't look to fill the spots [of our graduates]. As a team, we don't look back – we're always looking forward."

Part of looking ahead includes a revamped offense for the maroon and gold. "The upperclassmen are very excited about our new offense," said Knight. "We'll be doing a lot of set plays but we also have other options to implement on the fly."

OFFENSE/DEFENSE

The Sea Gulls return senior Melissa Stansbury, a four-year starter, to the outside hitter position. Her offensive and defensive prowess and adaptability on the court makes her an anchor for her squad. Beside her will be sophomore Jenna Shay, a right side hitter; Knight expects her to be a huge contributor to the Sea Gull offense. "Jenna's a very smart hitter. She sees the entire court, and if need be, she can crush the ball." Sophomore Carley Todd, who saw ample playing time in her debut season, offers additional experience for the maroon and gold; last year, the setter notched a career- and team-high 31 assists in a contest against Randolph-Macon College on Oct. 9. Fans should also look for sophomore Chelsea Glowacki to further contribute to the maroon and gold's 2010 campaign. Junior setter Lindsey Saltzman will find herself "in the quarterback position" on the court, as her upperclassman status and playing experience will make her an excellent leader for the maroon and gold in 2010.

Defensively, the fate of the elusive libero position remains to be seen. Several players are still vying for the spot.

Though individual players had their shining moments in the limited opportunities they have had to play together, their overall success will ultimately rest on the team's ability to gel as a squad. Knight is confident. "They really played as a unit [at the scrimmage], and with a variety of line-ups. They competed as if they had played together for years."

One of Salisbury's strengths will be the versatility of its players. "We've improved our defense in the off-season, and a lot of the girls can play in multiple capacities," noted Knight.

SCHEDULE

Salisbury's season will be highly demanding, particularly the middle-part of the year, but fans will have ample opportunity to watch their Sea Gulls compete at home. The maroon and gold will host two tournaments (SU Invitational, Sept. 17-18 and SU Tournament, Oct. 16-17) in addition to a slew of Capital Athletic Conference contests. A huge tournament for the Gulls, on the road, will pit them against the competitor which knocked them out of the NCAA tournament last year as Salisbury faces Christopher Newport University in the CNU Invitational (Oct. 8-9). "That's going to be a great tournament for us," said Knight. "It will be a wonderful test of our skills throughout the entire tournament."

In addition to Salisbury's competitive schedule, the Sea Gulls will also be giving back to the community in their annual charity event. In past years, the team has participated in the "Dig Pink" rally, which benefits breast cancer research; this year, Knight has elected to focus on an organization closer to home. The event, dubbed "Digs for Dogs", is scheduled for Oct. 21 and will consist of a serving contest between the second and third sets of the match along with a silent auction featuring items donated by local merchants. Proceeds will benefit the Wicomico County Humane Society and The Dog House.