WALTHAM -- There won't be a lot of familiar faces on the court when Sandy Hoffman begins her 25th season as Bentley women's volleyball coach this weekend at the New Haven Baden Invitational. Due to graduation, injuries and illness, only three players from last year's Sweet 16 team will be in action for the Falcons at the start of the 2006 season.
Bentley, 29-8 last year, will tip off the campaign at 5 p.m. tonight against Millersville University. Hoffman's team will also square off against New Haven tonight and will continue tournament play tomorrow against 17th-ranked Central Washington and Georgian Court.
The short list of available veterans is headed by junior middle blockers Christina Sadowski and Carey Demos, a duo that'll serve as co-captains. The other returnee who'll see action this weekend is sophomore setter Tori Piskulick.
Sadowski, a first-team All-Conference and AVCA All-Region pick, had an outstanding sophomore year while helping the Falcons to the Northeast-10 regular season title and the NCAA Division II regional final. The honorable mention Division II All-America hit .355 while averaging just under three kills and 1.4 blocks. Her career hitting percentage of .319 is fourth best in school history.
Demos hit .292 last fall in her second year as a starter and averaged two kills. Piskulick took over the setting duties midway through last season, and helped the team to a 13-3 record as a starter. In that role, she averaged 11.3 assists and 2.4 digs.
With only three experienced players, Hoffman will have to receive immediate contributions from her five newcomers, most of whom have extensive club experience. Kristine Mickelson, a high school teammate of Piskulich, and Alex Kearney will handle the hitting duties, and Cassie Kraft is slated to replace All-Conference Katie Markstein at libero.
Hoffman will also call upon freshman Kim Angelovich to contribute on the outside, and sophomore Amanda Aulenback, a transfer from New Hampshire, as a defensive specialist.
The Falcon roster will receive a boost in a few weeks when sophomore Susan Harrahy is expected to return to action. Like Piskulick, she was a starter over the second half of her freshman season, a stretch in which she averaged 2.7 kills and 2.5 digs.
The lone senior on the roster, Lisa Trish, may miss the season after suffering an offseason knee injury.
The Falcons will have eight matches under their belt before they open the home schedule Sept. 12 against Franklin Pierce.
