Eagle Volleyball Set for 2023 Season

Eagle outside hitter #21 McKenna Conklin returns for her sophomore season after leading the team in kills a season ago.  The squad takes the floor Friday when they travel to the Pasadena Tournament.
Eagle outside hitter #21 McKenna Conklin returns for her sophomore season after leading the team in kills a season ago. The squad takes the floor Friday when they travel to the Pasadena Tournament.

The MSJC women's volleyball team, who has reached the post-season in four of the last five years is set to begin their 2023 season on Friday when they travel to the Pasadena City College Tournament.

The Eagles return six sophomores to a squad that finished 2022 with a record of 15-12 overall and 8-2 in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference just missing out on their fifth straight paly-off appearance.  Leading the way among the returning group is outside hitter Mckenna Conklin, who last season led the team in kills with 274 for the season.  Teaming up with her on the outside will be Brooklynn Thomas who was third on the team in kills a season ago with 154.  Trysta Vincelli also returns and she will be the one assigned to passing Conklin and Thomas the ball as she comes back for her sophomore year after dishing out a team best 524 assists.  Vincelli also knocked down 90 kills of her own in 2022.  Tracy Blanchard. Lauren Cummings, and Haylee May also return after seeing significant playing time in their freshmen seasons.

Newcomer Hailey Frary out of Temecula Valley is expected to make an impact right away, she was described by Head Coach Serrina Eason as being "a dynamic middle".  She will be joined by a pair of former high school teammates at Murrieta Valley Carley Kruse and Megan Gajda who will be looked to as pin hitters this season.

"We've been very competitive in practice", Eason said "Now we need to make sure that transfers into our matches".  "We have a tough non-conference schedule, so we will find out right away where we stand, I am expecting our six sophomores to provide leadership, especially early in the season". 

Friday in Pasadena the Eagles will take on Cypress at 11 am and Mira Costa at 2 pm.  Saturday MSJC heads to East LA for a noon match before making their home debut on Wednesday August 30th.  On the 30th the team will host both Grossmont and LA Mission.  The Grossmont match is scheduled for 11 am with the LA Mission match set for 4 pm