CLARION – Any time a team brings back 10 key players, including three All-Region and three All-Conference performers, from a squad that won 26 games the year before, advanced to the conference semifinals and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs, expectations are sure to be high.

And the Clarion University women's volleyball team is no different.

“We know expectations are high,” Clarion's fourth-year head coach Jennifer Harrison, who was the 2009 AVCA Division II Atlantic Region Coach of the Year after guiding Clarion to a 26-10 overall mark and a 15-4 record in the PSAC's Western Division, said. “I think our players also have high expectations of themselves. They are on the same page in terms of their expectations and their goals. Now, it's matter of doing and not saying. That's always the hardest part.”

While the expectations are high, Harrison also knows her team can't rest on its laurels from last season.

“We are not going to be able to walk onto the court and be the same team we were last year,” Harrison said. “We have a lot of the same players, but there are differences as well. We are still looking at a lot of different lineups so see what will work best for us, and there is more competition in the gym.

“That being said, one of our goals this year is to improve on last year. In order to do that, we have to get better each day, we have to get better each match and we have to be a family. If we do those three things, the results will take care of themselves.”

When analyzing her team, Harrison sees its strengths being in its depth, its athleticism and its defense being better both with the ball and in blocking.

“We are also emerging as a tougher offensive unit,” Harrison said. “We have more weapons offensively than we did last year.”

Harrison also sees areas where her team needs to continue to improve as the season progresses.

“We need more offensive consistency, and we need to become a more consistent team serving the ball,” Harrison commented.

One of the areas Harrison is most pleased with is the depth of her front-line players.

“We have a lot of depth in the middle hitter and outside hitter spots,” Harrison said. “That allows us to make changes that we couldn't make before. If someone is having an off game, we will always have somebody we can get on the court who will help the program win.”

Clarion is four deep at the middle hitter spot with returning senior All-Region and All-PSAC performer Nicole Andrusz (Lockport, NY/Starpoint HS; 302 kills, 109 blocks) being pushed by sophomore Rebecca Webb (Fallston, MD; 251 kills, led team with 141 blocks) and freshman Corinne Manley (Olmstead Falls Twp., Ohio). Freshman Hannah Heeter (Seneca/Cranberry HS) is also in the mix in the middle as well as at right-side hitter.

At outside hitter, as many as eight players are competiting for playing time led by junior All-Region and All-PSAC performer Kellie Bartman (New Eagle/Ringgold HS; led team with 422 kills, added 270 digs, 73 blocks). Also in the mix are junior Kaitlyn Anderson (Lusby, MD/Patuxent HS; 170 kills) and a pair of impressive looking freshmen, according to Harrison, Breanna Kochinsky (Nicktown/Northern Cambria HS) and Emily Stewart (Huron, Ohio/Edison HS). Additionally, senior Leeann Higginbotham (Greensburg/Hempfield HS; 61 kills), sophomore Rebecca Ferragonio (Irwin/Norwin HS; 11 kills in 10 sets) and freshmen Megan Condit (Cranberry Twp./Seneca Valley HS) and Carlie Bieranowski (Freeport) are also more than capable of helping Clarion win matches.

At right-side hitter, junior Danielle Brunot (Guys Mills/Maplewood HS; 183 kills, 55 blocks), who is in her final season with the Golden Eagles, will get a chance to stay healthy thanks to quality depth added by freshman Aubree Frye (Indiana), Clarion's lone lefty hitter, and Heeter.

“The added depth will help Danielle stay healthier,” Harrison said. “And it's really nice to have a lefty in there who can play all six rotations.

“Also, Hannah is a player who everyday is showing improvement, a player who is looking more comfortable. She is going to make it very difficult for our athletes in the gym, and as she improves it will be hard to keep her off the court.”

With so many options at hitter, the play of junior setter Amanda Gough (Chesterton, Ind.) will be key to Clarion's offensive success. Gough was a second-team All-PSAC-West setter a year ago when she record the 10^th most set assists in a season in school history with 1,205. She ranks fifth in school history with 2,000 career set assists and is looking to become just the third player at Clarion with 3,000 in her career.

“Amanda has grown mentally and emotionally since she first started as a freshman,” Harrison said. “She is becoming more of a leader, and she is doing a better job trying to understand the strategy of the game.”

Backing up Gough will be junior Leirin Baker (Cochranton) and sophomore Rebecca Beightol (Titusville/Maplewood HS; 78 set assists in 25 sets).

On defense, the Golden Eagles will be paced by returning All-Region Libero Rhianon Brady(Canal Winchester, Ohio), a junior who ranks 10^th in school history with 1,216 digs and who needs 166 more to move into the Top 5 and 244 more to move into the Top 3. Last season, she set the school record with 729 digs and ranked third in the PSAC and 13^th in the nation with 5.52 digs per set.

Joining Brady on the defensive will be junior Kayla Rodak (Canton, Ohio/Glenoak; 22 digs in 19 sets) as well as junior freshman Lauren Magalski (Spring Grove). Ferragonio could also see time at the defensive positions.

“Last year, we were using two defensive specialists,” Harrison said. “This year, our outside hitters have made a push with their ball control and could see playing time in all six rotations. But we will still get our defensive players on the court no matter what. It will be a facet of our game.”

NOTES – Clarion beat Edinboro in the PSAC quarterfinals last year before falling to Lock Haven in the semifinals. The Golden Eagles then dropped a 3-2 decision to Edinboro in the opening round of the NCAA Division II playoffs … Both Andrusz and Brady were named ESPN The Magazine/CoSida All-Region Academic players with Andrusz getting a first-team nod and Brady a second-team selection. Andrusz was a second-team choice in 2008 … Clarion opens the season this weekend when its travels to Quincy, Ill., for a four-match tournament Friday and Saturday. The Golden Eagles first home match is at 7 p.m., Friday Sept. 24 vs. California. That is one of two Family Weekend matches, as Clarion hosts IUP at 4 p.m. Saturday Sept. 25 … The Golden Eagles will once again be doing a breast cancer awareness match. It is slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 12 vs. Slippery Rock … Harrison is 70-31 in her three seasons at Clarion with a pair of NCAA Division II playoff appearances. Clarion has qualified for the NCAA Division II postseason six times since 2002 … The Golden Eagles earned AVCA Team Academic Award in 2009.