Men's Volleyball Team Rebuilds
Published 01.31.2008
Pennsylvania College of Technology men's volleyball coach Wes Strayer doesn't mince any words when it comes to this season's squad.
"I lost all my starters. It's a total rebuilding year," he said as his team prepares for its season opener at 7 p.m. Saturday at Haverford.
Despite the lack of collegiate playing experience, Strayer added, "I have some good kids. Overall, we'll wait and see what happens."
Probable starters in the opener are Cody Goss (sophomore/State College) at setter, Brian Brown (senior/Youngsville) and Brady West (freshman/Wyomissing) outside hitters, Brad Bell (freshman/Harrisburg) and Adam Peck (senior/Rockaway, N.J.) middle hitters, and Josh Stover (senior/Spring Mills) at weak-side hitter.
Strayer listed Shawn Wesche (sophomore/Angelica, N.Y.) and Jared Palko (freshman/Waymart) among his defensive specialists.
Other freshmen on the team are Ben King (Montoursville), Phil Reift (Washington Borough), Todd Sitler (Douglasville), Shawn Bradley (State College) and Ryan Levesque (Unionville).
The Wildcats are coming off a 14-4 season in Middle Atlantic Collegiate Volleyball Club action, and Strayer's teams over four seasons have gone 78-12.
"I'm hoping for a .500 season. That's what I'm looking at right now, just because they don't have any experience. "¦ They all seem to get along great, the intensity is just not there," Strayer said. "If there is growth each match, then (the record) is going to be better than .500.
"I told them, "you guys don't have the height, but, if you block and play defense, you're going to go a long way,' " the coach continued.
"The challenge is there, it all depends on how they meet the challenge," Strayer added.
(Complete rosters and season schedules are available on the college's Athletics Web site ).