Womens Volleyball Team Prepares to Defend Region Championship

Delaware Tech’s women’s volleyball team enters the 2023 season as the defending National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 19 champions and are preparing for an encore performance.

“It’s unrealistic to think we will perform exactly like we did last season with only three returning players,” Head Coach Leigh DeSantis said. “However, it’s not unrealistc to think that we know a thing or two about expectation management, hard work, and goal chasing.

“Of course, the goal is to defend our championship title but also not be too hard on ourselves if we fall short either.”

Last year’s team was led by NJCAA Region 19 Player of the Year Alexcia Sutton, Team MVP and Region 19 All-Region player Isabella Denk, and Region 19 All-Region player Morgan Donahue. All three of those players have graduated.

This year’s team returns sophomores Paige Orth, Ashley Kelly, and Lily Bosch. In 2022, Orth had 134 kills, 27 digs, 23 solo blocks, and 39 assisted blocks in 76 sets. Kelly had 126 kills, 85 digs, 33 aces, 14 solo blocks, and 25 assisted blocks in 75 sets. And, while playing in just 46 sets, Bosch had 14 aces and 12 digs.

“Most of the members of our roster last season were sophomores and have moved on to new endeavors,” DeSantis said. “We have three returning players and many brand new faces, meaning our lineup, our strategy, and our overall outlook has to be different.”

This year’s freshman players are Megan Carroll (Smyrna), Kat Henretty (Concord), Jazzlyn Maloney (Brandywine), Rylee Dobrowolski (Delaware Military Academy), Jasmyne Escobar (St. Georges Vo-Tech), Amy Rash (Providence Christian Academy), Ashlie Cabalza (Delcastle), and Mary Fatorma (Newark).

“This group of student-athletes have an overall empowering and positive attitude,” DeSantis said. “They are already getting along well and gelling nicely. Now we need to fine tune and make sure we don't cause undo unforced errors during match play.

“We have some heavy hitters and strong servers and both will serve us well as we adjust our defense to exemplify the strengths we already have.”

Delaware Tech is off to an early start to the 2023 season, having already played three games and starting the season with a 1-2 record. The team’s first home game of the season is Sept. 9 against Montgomery County Community College at 2 p.m. at the Stanton Campus.

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PHOTO:
The 2023 Delaware Tech women’s volleyball team, back row, from left, Mary Fatorma, Ashley Kelly, Paige Orth, Jasmyne Escobar, and Assistant Coach Erin Carney. Middle row, Head Coach Leigh DeSantis, Megan Carroll, Ashlie Cabalza, Jazzlyn Maloney, Lily Bosch, and Assistant Coach Morgan Donahue. Front row, Amy Rash, Kat Henretty, and Rylee Dobrowolski.