Penn College Men's Volleyball Coach Expects 'Fantastic Season'
Published 03.10.2005
In the course of one season under coach Wes Strayer, the Pennsylvania College of Technology men's volleyball team turned from an also-ran into a contender. This season, the Wildcats are expected to do even more.
After going 2-7 two years ago, Penn College improved to 10-2 last year and finished second in both the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference and the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association. A solid corps of returning starters and strong newcomers are the reasons for this year's optimism.
"I don't think we'll even have a problem. I picked up some good kids," Strayer said.
The Wildcats open their season at 10 a.m. Saturday in a six-team tournament at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Returning players are outside hitters David Atkinson (junior, State College), Matt Staub (sophomore, Millersville), Cody Umberger (sophomore, Lower Dauphin) and Nick Ophof (junior, Delaware Valley), middle hitter Gregg Stoneham (junior, Hunterdon, N.J.) and setter Kyle Flook (sophomore, Cedar Cliff).
Newcomers are middle hitters Phil Neiderer (freshman, New Oxford), Jake Beautz (freshman, Uniondale), Adam Peck (freshman, Rockaway, N.J.) and Josh Tomkiel (junior, Royersford) and outside hitters Tom Holeva (freshman, Guys Mills), George King (freshman, Lancaster), Brian Schmehl (sophomore, Reading) and Matt Wurtenberger (freshman, Quakertown).
"Our middle attack is strong, which means our blocking is much stronger," Strayer said. "I'm expecting a fantastic season."