2015 Schedule
2015 Roster
CC Preseason Poll
CC Preseason Guide
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College volleyball team is looking to make the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years and win at least 20 matches for the fourth consecutive season in 2015. There are high expectations for the Fords as the Centennial Conference coaches voted them as the No. 1 team in the preseason poll.
Haverford welcomes back all but three players from the 2014 team that went 22-10, hosted the Centennial Conference tournament and went to the NCAA regional semifinals for the first time since 2009.
After beginning the 2014 season with a 3-1 record at the Haverford Invitational, the Fords dropped five of their next seven to fall to 5-6 on the year. Head coach Michele Benoit's team then rattled off five straight victories including a five-set win over No. 14 Eastern. The month of October saw Haverford go 10-1 setting up a showdown with Swarthmore to end the season with the right to host the conference tournament on the line. The Fords picked up a five-set victory over Swarthmore with three of the five sets decided by two points. Haverford received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and scored a three-game sweep over SUNY New Paltz in the first round.
Meg O'Day returns to the team after being selected to the American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Division III All-American third team last season. She was the first All-American for the program since Rebecca Salvo '10, Rachel Salvo '10 and Kate Comey '12 were awarded the honor after the 2009 season. O'Day was picked as the fifth player from Haverford to win conference player of the year and was just 11th player in conference history to be named to the first team three straight years.
Another All-CC first team member, Keri Godbe, had a banner 2014 campaign, ranking third in the conference in kills (414), points (451) and digs (456). She had eight double-doubles in her last 10 matches and recorded at least 10 digs in 26 matches.
The Fords had two others finish with over 100 kills in Nina Mutty (228) and Elena Garcia (108). Mutty was honored as the conference Player of the Week last October and led the team in service aces (37). Olivia Walsh (564) and Zoe Wong (546) finished in the top ten among conference foes in assists. The conference leader in digs (508), Jeanna Kenney was also named to the All-Sportsmanship team.
Other members of the team that will look to make contributions are Kaylynn Mayo (95 kills) and Valentine Courouble (52 kills). Abby Keller, Sara Rennert and Alexandra Craig are upperclassmen that provide depth at their respective positions while newcomers Natalie Pisch and Maddie Becker are expected to battle for playing time.
The 2015 schedule features 29 matches including five teams from the 2014 NCAA Tournament and nine matches at the Gooding '84 Arena. The season will get underway on the road vs. Cabrini (Sept. 1) before hosting CCNY and Stevenson in the Haverford/Swarthmore Invitational (Sept. 5-6).