The 2019 Hudson Valley women's volleyball season is set to begin this Saturday, August 31 as the Vikings host Paul Smith's College of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). The match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start inside the McDonough Sports Complex on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College.
The Vikings volleyball program has five returning student-athletes who will be the foundation for the overall team success this year. Leading the pack is libero Laura Grippin. Last season, Grippin led the Vikings with 343 digs and 4.40 digs per set, both ranked inside the top-20 among all NJCAA Region 3 student-athletes. Katrina Vrooman and Jacqueline McCormick return as the team's top middle hitters this season.
Madison DeMarco is expected to be a key scorer for the Vikings with her tremendous power and versatile play from the outside hitter position. Last season, DeMarco finished the year with 67 kills, 36 service aces and 100 digs, which placed as a top-5 statistical leader among the Vikings team.
Leureah Cummings takes over the setter position for Hudson Valley this season. She finished last year with 80 kills, 49 digs and 55 assists as the team's secondary setter. Cummings will be the focal point of the offense this year as she distributes the ball to the Vikings outside hitters.
Coach Kelsey Wilson enters her fourth season at the helm of the Vikings volleyball program and is excited about this year's freshman class. "I'm very hopeful for the new season with a great group of women," said Wilson. "I hope we are successful and I hope our student-athletes have fun doing it."
In total there are nine new faces to the Vikings program. Led by a trio of talented hitters, Andraya Warner-Davis leads the pack with her phenomenal hitting power, which is complimented by her ability to jump out of the gym. Makenzie Young will solidify the Vikings right side and has displayed a tremendous amount of potential during the Vikings preseason camp. Holly Feit will also see time at the middle hitter position. She brings an added versatility which will help the Vikings throughout the entire season.
Julianna Fowler, a high school libero, will handle the defensive specialist duties this year and will be primed to step into the leading libero role next season when Grippin graduates from the program. Fowler will also see time on the right side of the front line and will have several opportunities to contribute to the Vikings offensive attack.
The Vikings volleyball program will hold its annual Dig Pink Night on Monday, October 14, their final home game of the year, when they host Ulster at 7 p.m. The program has held a Dig Pink night in each of the last three seasons and have raised funds in support of breast cancer research.
For all of the latest news and notes on the Vikings athletic programs, please be sure to visit athletics.hvcc.edu.