Women's Volleyball

The signs of improvement are evident everywhere. Under third-year head coach Mickey Cahoon, the 2009 Cougar volleyball team made its second consecutive trip to the NEWMAC Tournament, marking its first back-to-back appearances since 2005-06. They also had three wins in NEWMAC action - their most since 2006 - and they halted an eight match losing streak to Coast Guard that dated back to 2001 with a thrilling 3-2 victory in front of a raucous crowd at Kneller Gymnasium.

On a roster filled with underclassmen, senior captain Emily Visone (West Hempstead, N.Y.) was a key cog in the development of her teammates and along the way became the program’s all-time leader in digs, ending her career with 1,526. The Cougars’ other captain, senior Liz Magier (Newburgh, N.Y.), was shined a great deal down stretch and played a key role in the comeback win at Wheaton in late October.

Those underclassmen, however, led by sophomores Kristin McGinty (Vail, Colo.) and Amira Tranchell (Falmouth, Mass.) provided a huge portion of the Cougar offensive attack, while classmate Nichole Lopez (Alameda, Calif.) and freshman Emily Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.) shared the setting duties.

Another sophomore, Kortney Kelley (Barnstable, Mass.) teamed with Visone defensively, helping the Cougars rank third in team digs in the NEWMAC. Kelley, who was second on the team in digs, joined Visone as the only two players to play in every set this year.

Other key contributors included first-years ToniMarie Illuzzi (Manorville, N.Y.), Amanda Harris (San Diego, Calif.), sophomore Nicole Sullivan (Marshfield, Mass.) and junior Emily Corbett (Rose Valley, Pa.).

Now, with several underclassmen having seen extended court time and the return of Maritza Fair and both Parker Edmonds (Fort Worth, Texas) and freshman Katie Freaney from season-ending injuries, all signs point to a much improved Cougar squad in 2010 and beyond.

About Clark Volleyball

Clark offers a spirited and rigorous Division III volleyball program. The Cougars compete in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC), which is the strongest volleyball conference in the region.

Head coach Mickey Cahoon will begin his thrid year at the helm of the Cougar squad. His coaching philosophy consists of practice sessions that include a disciplined work ethic, an enthusiastic approach toward learning and most importantly, committed teamwork. In doing so, the Cougars are prepared for a 25-30 match slate against some of the top Division III schools in New England.

In the spring, players participate in an off-season strength-training program and a five-week nontraditional season. The past four of five nontraditional seasons, Clark has played in the Cathy D’Apice Memorial Tournament to raise funds for breast cancer. In 2005, Clark raised the most money by a single team in the history of the tournament.

Members of the volleyball team share their enthusiasm for the sport, serving as mentors and teaching volleyball fundamentals to young girls. In 2001, the team received the Community Partnership Award from Girls, Inc., a prominent national organization that encourages girls to be “strong, smart and bold.” Other team community involvement has included the “Big Brothers, Big Sisters” program, as well as hosting volleyball clinics in the Dolan Field House for both novice and experienced local middle- and high-school students.

On the court, in the community and in the classroom – this team shines. The Cougars were one of 43 NCAA Division III teams that received the 2005 American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award, which honors teams who achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher. The Cougars were also honored with this award in 2003 and 2002. In 2002, the Cougars ranked fifth out of 32 award recipients with a notable 3.52 team GPA.

Recent Highlights