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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Ally Bartolone practice
Aislyn McQueen

Season Preview: Youthful Volleyball Squad Set for 2021

| By: Morgan Mueller, Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The John Carroll University Volleyball squad is eager and grateful for their 2021 volleyball season to start, with plenty of promise for a fun year. 

Fifth-year Head Coach Michele Benoit has six dynamic freshmen and a variety of strong lineups, so the Blue Streaks are prepared to play doubleheader games throughout the season. 

The team has no seniors, and it is expected for the junior captains to put their "best foot forward" states Benoit, and become leaders on and off the court. Captain Ally Bartolone is an athletic setter and starter with a ton of energy, and captain Carleen Ellerbruch a quiet leader and effective middle hitter. A main program player and third captain is Cassi Calamunci who is an offensive threat and vocal hitter. 

The defensive specialists and liberos this year include junior Anna Coughlin, sophomore Cindy Woo, and freshmen Lexi MacDonald, and Payton Miozzi. These players bring intensity and physical energy to the game. Woo and Coughlin are consistent and tough players that bring fun loving energy to the court. Look for Madison Heininger to help impact the game as an outside hitter/DS, as well. 

Coach Benoit has dynamic players throughout the team that are getting better daily and have solid skill sets. Junior outside and right side hitter Kailee Herbst is a hard worker that steps up to any position and brings enthusiasm to the court. Along with freshman right side Jenn Follmer and outside hitter Abigail Kirk which both have strong skill sets and bring lots of energy to the front row. 

Returning starter middle hitter Ava Nice is a huge front row threat as well and is consistently getting better. 

Freshman setter Maddie Maziarz is a competitive player with a lot of improvement and a quiet leader. 

The team has been practicing very hard and ready for the challenge of the Ohio Athletic Conference schedule. 

"This has been one of the most fun teams in terms of personality and love for the game," said Benoit, as she is looking to avoid injury this season and allow each player to grow and progress daily. 

Benoit had her best season as head coach of the Blue Streaks last year during the 2019 season, earning a 19-11 record and a berth to the OAC Tournament. The 19 wins were the most by a John Carroll volleyball team since the 2014 squad, which qualified for the OAC Championship. 

The team is striving to be even better this year especially with six new freshmen and "the family atmosphere" that Benoit says they have now.

The Blue Streaks are enjoying having former 4-year standout player Kit (O'Shaughnessy) Mladenovic enter her first year as the graduate assistant of the volleyball program. Assistant coach Brooke Turner (entering her third season with the team) and volunteer assistant Khaliah Watts complete a great coaching staff.

The Blue Streaks open the season on Friday vs. Muskingum at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. 
 
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