The 2012 Queensborough Community College Women’s Volleyball team is getting ready to begin another season, and will build on the great success from last season. Last year’s team finished the season with a 21-5 record and captured their second consecutive CUNYAC Championship. The new Lady Tiger’s roster has a lot of changes; only two players are returning from last season and a great deal of pressure and expectations will be upon this young duo. Returning from last year’s team was freshmen standout April Bourdier and setter Michelle O’Hanlon. Both players will be key for the team’s continual success. High expectations will fall upon both athletes to use their experience and talent to blend the new young team together.
The team has embraced a youth movement to fill out the rest of the team with all freshmen to create a new core. Right side hitter, Angelica Aquino will be an offensive weapon for the Tigers. The lefty hitter will provide reliable offense and exceptional defense. Freshmen middle hitters Victoria Marrazzo and Lia Briffa will play a large role in the offense as well as be the first line of defense, giving the team two very good blocking options. Libero Luverie Lumbera will be a pivotal defensive player and will be the single most important receiver to get the young Tiger’s offense started. Outside hitter Nemesis Gallegos and defense specialist Jennifer Santiago will also have important roles in the serve receive.
Coach Jason Demas has high hopes for his new team, and feels the new team can even be better than last years. “This year’s team is different than any I’ve coached, the potential here is unlimited. It all depends on how hard we work during the season to accomplish all of our goals”. He was also clear to point out that this is not a rebuilding year, “we have the same high expectations this year, and I believe in this team’s ability to mature very quickly, and their capacity to be able to face the tests of the season.” The team is also behind this philosophy and hope, April Bourdier feels “we have established a winning program here, and all we need to do is to keep building on it and pass the baton. We know people will doubt us because we lost a lot of great players, but we will have to prove them all wrong and make them believers too.”
The Lady Tiger’s will have a home scrimmage game on 9/11 against St Joseph’s at 7:00pm. The start of the regular season will kick off with a home opener against nonleague Division II opponent Nassau Community College on 9/13 at 6:00pm. The other two home games will be on 10/4 against Suffolk Community College at 6:00pm, which will also coincide with our Breast Cancer Support Pink Day and a Pep Rally. The last home game will be held on 10/10 against Bronx Community College at 7:00; which is Senior Day.
We hope to see you at the games! Go Tigers!
