2016 Schedule | 2015 Results

2016 Roster | NJAC Preseason Poll

NEWARK, N.J. (August 31, 2016) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's volleyball program will usher in a new era on Thursday when the Scarlet Raiders host the College of Saint Elizabeth in The Golden Dome at 7 p.m. The match will be the first for the team under first-year Head Coach Megan Knott who is hoping to take the program to the next level.
 
"We have been working hard and really raising the level of commitment, work ethic, excitement and expectations this preseason," said Knott. "It's my hope that we can carry that over into the regular season by doing the same things in the matches that we are doing in practice."
 
There are two seniors on the roster in Kathy Hormaza and Tabitha Davis and they will be tasked with leading the team.
 
Hormaza is a player willing to do whatever it takes to win and whatever the team needs. Listed as a defensive specialist and libero, she will be a key contributor on defense and her versatility in all aspects is a major asset. Hormaza played in 23 matches as a junior, hammering home 104 kills, 10 aces, 235 digs, seven block assists and 117.5 total points.
 
Davis will be the team's starting right side after finishing the year second on the team in kills (125) and third in points with 162. A player with a great deal of talent, Davis will be able to take her game to another level with improved consistency. Eleven times in 2015 the lefty tallied six kills or more, also handing out a total of 23 assists, a solid 50 blocks and 95 digs.
 
"Kathy and Tabitha are going to be very important to what we do this year," said Knott. "They know what it takes to be successful in our conference and are our most experienced players."
 
Four juniors will take the court in 2016 for Newark in libero Sue Riley, middle Rebecca Ford, middle Christina Maglione and setter/outside hitter Karolina Kopacz.
 
Riley is a two-time NJAC honoree, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014 and honorable mention All-NJAC accolades as a sophomore. The Rahway, N.J. native averaged 4.75 digs per set in 2015 and played in a team-best 95 sets. Riley also handed out 20 assists and 17 service aces and figures to once again be a Newark key in 2016.
 
Ford saw the court in 41 sets and 18 matches as a sophomore, totaling 23 points behind 23 kills. She delivered three service aces and 36 total blocks and brings a nice element of offensive ability to the middle blocker position.
 
Christina Maglione returns to the roster after a year off and is fighting for a starting spot. A strong blocker, Maglione will be a major addition if she continues to improve her quickness. She totaled 1.51 kills per set in 100 total sets played as a freshman and sophomore, picking up 32 total blocks in that span as well.
 
Kopacz will move to the setter position this season after serving as one of the team's outside hitters in 2015. The setter spot is where she played in high school and if needed she can handle a little of everything because of her versatility and athleticism. Kopacz has been a vocal leader throughout the preseason and contributes all over the court. The junior averaged 2.52 points per set in an injury shortened sophomore season.
 
Outside Jess Moy, libero Analis Capobianco and outside Cassie Luken are the returning sophomores on the squad. Moy ended the 2015 season with two-straight New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week honors, totaling 118 kills in 64 sets. She should figure into the rotation and could become a force with continued improvement and consistency. Capobianco has an excellent serve and has been pushing Riley for the Libero spot throughout the preseason. She averaged 2.16 digs per set as a rookie and put down 25 aces. Luken will be looking to take the next step after a highly-successful freshman season. The then-freshman hammered 114 kills and seems to have added to her offensive arsenal over the summer. A well-rounded player, Luken led the team with 36 aces and was third with 42 blocks (.54 per set).
 
Two transfers in junior Morgan Schweitzer and sophomore Nicole Polak have come into the program, and both hope to make an immediate impact. Polak – a middle – has great size and is very athletic, while Schweitzer – an outside – has a powerful attack, can hit from the back and is a good receiver when it comes to defense. Additionally, sophomore setter/DS Dominique Flores – who recently joined the team – has been solid thus far and is working hard to build a rapport with the R-N hitters.
 
In addition to the transfers, four freshmen are on the 2016 Scarlet Raider roster in DS Sue Son, DS Brione Lockett, middle Epiphani Woodard and DS Christina Ko. Son, Lockett and Ko will provide depth in the Scarlet Raider defense, while Woodard has demonstrated a ton of athleticism in the middle. Should Woodard allow that athleticism to take over, she could find herself in the mix for key moments.
 
"We have been doing two-a-days throughout the preseason, and I am happy with what I see," said Knott. "The younger players have done a nice job adjusting, and I appreciate the older players leading."
 
When asked about she wants out of her team in the early going Knott preached defense.
 
"Defense comes first. We need to work hard on the defensive side of things – blocking, receiving – and that will help the offense. It may sound cliché but it's very true, and I think the team is buying in."
 
After Thursday's opener, the Scarlet Raiders will visit the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Friday and take on Mount Saint Vincent and the College of New Rochelle on the road Tuesday and Thursday.
 
The team begins NJAC play against Rowan University in The Golden Dome.