Following the graduation of three-time first-team all-league selection and 2009 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Year Kelly Helfrich, the William Paterson volleyball program will be looking for its nine returning letterwinners and four newcomers to elevate their games this fall.

“Everyone has worked very hard to improve,” said 32nd-year head coach Sandy Ferrarella. “Our veterans knew that Kelly would be gone this year, and so they knew that they would all have to work together to pick up the slack. Because of that, we may actually be stronger this year all the way around.”

Leading the list of returnees from last season's 21-8 team is junior Megan Maher (Wood-Ridge, N.J./Wood-Ridge), an honorable-mention all-conference pick with 2.73 kills, 3.45 assists and 2.89 digs per set a year ago. A do-everything player who has accumulated nine triple-doubles, Maher will continue to see time at outside hitter and setter during the 2010 campaign.

Splitting the setting responsibilities with Maher will be senior Jillian Bronowich (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus), who has led WP in assists during each of the last two seasons for a career average of 3.34 per set. She will be joined in the starting rotation by classmate and middle hitter Michelle Leeder (Ridgefield, N.J./Ridgefield Memorial), who had the best numbers of her career with 1.68 kills and 2.85 digs per set as a junior.

Kelly Shaw (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) stepped in and started immediately as a freshman last year, averaging 1.20 kills and 1.22 digs per set. She could see more sets in the middle this fall, where she will be joined by senior Stephanie Fox (Hawthorne, N.J./Paramus Catholic), who will become a first-time starter after appearing in 33 career matches as a reserve.

The lone newcomer expected to be a part of the starting rotation is junior middle hitter Kim Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Regional-Demarest), who started 39 of 68 matches during two seasons spent at Ramapo College. Ferrarella describes Runge as a do-everything player who can hit, set, serve and communicate well on the court.

Michelle Mitchell (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) took over the starting role as the Pioneers' libero in 2009, averaging 1.31 digs per set as a freshman. Junior Alyssa Koukos (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) could press for time in the back row as well, this after seeing limited action as a reserve the last two years.

Sophomore Liz Dykhouse (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) will likely hit when Bronowich is in the back row, while classmate Gina Pettigano (Elmwood Park, N.J./Elmwood Park Memorial) will be used off the bench as well as she continues to develop her hitting and consistency.

Three freshmen – Crystal Ferriero (West New York, N.J./Memorial), Erika Masso (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) and Amanda Morales (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) -- will also be competing for playing time while working to adapt their games to the college level.