Millsaps College - A season removed from an impressive 22-12 record and an 11-7 mark in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play, the Millsaps Women's Volleyball team seeks to continue its winning ways in 2002. Under the guidance of 5th year head coach Peter Cosmiano, the Majors are primed for success this fall. "For the past few years we have focused on building a competitive program," says Cosmiano about his volleyball program. "This year we hope to enjoy the benefits of hard work." Comprised of nine veteran players and four newcomers, the Majors are rich with talent and will take the court in 2002 on the heels of last season's national acclaim of achieving a ranking as high as 4th in the South Region.
Cosmiano, who has already etched his name in the Millsaps record books as the all time winningest coach in Millsaps volleyball history, speaks optimistically about the make up of his club. "We have the potential to be very good this year. Our returnees are well prepared and our freshmen will fit nicely into our program."
Leading the experienced Majors this season will be junior middle-blocker and outside hitter Margaret Dykes who collected a team high 493 kills in 2001 en route to her placement on the All-SCAC first team. Joining Dykes are senior outside hitters Jill Adams and Natalie Pilato, who registered 434 and 284 kills respectively last season. Adams also led the Majors in digs with 702, while Pilato followed with 565 digs, which garnered them national recognition last year. Additional starters include senior middle-blocker Crystal Helo and sophomore setter Erin Dehon. Helo amassed 146 kills in 2001, while Dehon posted a team high 1,315 assists.
Adding depth for the Purple and White are sophomore defensive specialist Katie Brown, junior opposite hitters Mo Kampman and Brittany Mauldin, and junior outside hitter Jennifer Wester. Brown armed 15 digs in only 8 games played last season, and Kampman tallied 38 kills and 83 digs in 2001, while Mauldin managed 60 kills and 169 digs. Wester compiled 10 kills and 20 digs.
Freshmen middle-blockers Kimberley Finnell and Jennifer Pujol and freshmen outside hitters Elizabeth Blanche and Ashley Webber round out the Majors' squad, with each player boasting superior high school and club credentials. Finnell, who is listed at 6 feet tall, helped lead Briarcrest High School in Memphis, TN, to three state tournament appearances and made one trip to a national tournament with the Memphis Juniors club team. The 5-11 Pujol, from Covington, LA, made one visit to a regional tournament with the Slidell Volleyball Club, while the 6 footer Blanche, a native of Baton Rouge, LA, keyed Episcopal High School's run to three state tournament appearances. The anchor of the freshman phenoms is Webber. Hailing from New Orleans, LA, Webber, who stands at 5-8, guided Newman High School to three state championships and was a member of the Cajunland club national championship team.
The Majors will open the fall season at the Tiger Invitational at the University of West Alabama on August 30-31.
