PCC Volleyball Ranked #14 in Nation in Preseason Poll

After finishing as the runners-up in Region VI last season and with a strong recruiting class, the PCC Beaver Volleyball team will once again enter the season with a target on their backs.  Placed at #14, this the highest preseason ranking the Beavers have ever attained, creating a challenge the team will need to address when they open against Clarendon College in Lamar, Colorado, on August 27th.
 
"I don't have any doubt that our team is looking forward to the challenge our ranking has created," said Head Coach Patrick Hall. "Of course it's always a mixed blessing.  Everyone enjoys the recognition, but rues the pressure.  Compounding the early season challenges will be the presence of ten freshmen on the roster.  They're a talented, athletic group that will need to gel early to handle our September schedule."
 
Joining the two sophomores, libero Ong Ly and MH/RS Taelir Winkel, will be setters Emily Scheck (Dodge City) and Samantha Reed (Ashland, NE).  They'll be delivering the ball to outsides Nohely Perez (Caracas, VE), Bailey Rush (Haviland), and Kaylee Cramer (Healy, KS).  Filling the middle will be Natali Jones (Pratt-Skyline), Hannah Melichar (Pratt), and Sara Aloisio (Rome, Italy).  Pratt also added two outstanding new defensive players in Taylor Fredericksen (Lakin, KS) and Tori Provencio (Derby, KS).
 
"I definitely think that early on we'll be relying on the strength of our defense," said Hall.  "We've got three outstanding defensive players, and we think they're going to give us a foundation that we can build our season on.  With ninety percent of our offense new, including two new setters, I know that it will be a while before we can establish the rhythm we'd like.  We're hoping that our defense provides us with a bit of a margin. We're certainly looking forward to a very exciting season."