The Montreat Cavalier volleyball program enters the 2007-2008 season with many new faces. One of those is new assistant coach Katie Grady Duvall. Katie Duvall, a former Montreat volleyball and softball stand out, brings a tremendous amount of expertise and experience back to the program.
“I am very excited to have Katie rejoin our program. We both have very high expectations for our girls this season,” says Head Coach Leslie Gehris.
Key losses from last year’s squad include seniors Angela Birchfield (1st Team All-Conference and All-Region outside hitter) and Amanda Welch (All-AAC Academic Team and NAIA Scholar Athlete middle hitter). The leadership of seven returning players will guide the team into the always-competitive Appalachian Athletic Conference. Montreat’s preseason ranking was 5th in the ten team conference.
Coach Gehris will lean on offensive returnees Danny Bowers, Alison Williams and Madolyn Helms. Bowers was named 2nd Team All-Conference last season and also reached her 1000th kill mark against Tennessee Wesleyan College. Other returnees who will have a major impact on the outcome of the season will be seniors Jessica Huntley (libero), defensive specialist Stephanie Hosack, sophomore defensive specialist Addie McHenry, and setter Lyndsey Wall.
Six talented freshmen have also signed with the team this year. “We are thrilled about our freshmen class. These ladies are excited about Christ and they’re fabulous athletes,” says Gehris. Rebekah Henderson, Allison Baumgartner, Claire Sellers and Alyssa Koester will help fill the void on the front row. Setter Emily Piccirillo, a local player from North Buncombe High School, will be working with Lyndsey Wall to develop a faster offense, and defensive specialist Gretchen Guinn will train to strengthen our defense and fill our libero position next season. These ladies are experienced players coming from successful high school and club programs.
The coaching staff is really optimistic of the team's potential. The AAC is a very tough conference, and all the girls are willing and ready to step up to the challenge.