Kutztown University women’s volleyball will be without two starters who accounted for more than half of the team’s 1,527 kills last season, and head coach John Gump will look to a trio of returning all-conference performers to lead an otherwise young squad in 2007.

Sarah Brandon and Dani Witherite combined to record 785 kills as KU went 24-8 overall and 9-1 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division in 2006. KU lost in the PSAC semifinals to California (Pa.) before picking up its first-ever NCAA Regional victory vs. Clarion. KU then lost to Lock Haven in the second round of the Regionals.

Brandon, Witherite and fellow All-PSAC East Selection Shelby Bunting graduated, leaving seniors Nicole Biuso and Erin Waters to lead a young team into 2007.

Waters, a middle hitter, finished third on the team in kills with 210 (2.16 per game) and second with 142 blocks. Biuso, at libero, led KU with 52 service aces and 486 digs. They will receive help from junior setter Austin Kinney, who averaged 10.69 assists per game with her 1,058 assists in 99 games. She had 280 in PSAC play, finishing third in the conference. Waters, Kinney and Biuso were second-team All-PSAC East players in 2006.

Katie Miller is the only other returning player from 2006. Miller, a sophomore right-side hitter, recorded 88 kills and 43 digs while taking the court for 67 games.

The rest of the team will be made up of true freshmen.

Vying for time at left-side hitter will be Danielle Ozment (fr. Reading/Holy Name), Lindsay Confer (fr. Bellefonte/Bald Eagle), Kaitlyn Cunliffe (fr. Levittown/Pennsbury) and Nora Alexander (fr. Plymouth Meeting/Plymouth-Whitemarsh).

Backing up Waters at middle hitter will be Kelsey Nester (fr. Catasauqua/Catasauqua) and Jenn Zook (fr. Reedsville/Indian Valley). Nester was an All-State selection in PIAA Class AA.

Catherine Leahy (fr. Collegeville/Perkiomen Valley) and walk-on Meg O’Connell (Horsham/Hatboro-Horsham) will back up Biuso at libero, and Jamie Celia (fr. Douglassville/Daniel Boone) and Alexandra Thomas (fr. Quakertown/Quakertown) will play backup to Kinney.

Celia is versatile defensively and will see time in the front row. She was an All-State selection in PIAA Class AAA and named Berks County’s Most Valuable Player.

Gump believes that his team’s depth lies at setter and on the left side, but the key to success this season lies in the middle.

"Waters was a key factor in KU’s success last season, but she will have to adjust to a different role, as leader of a young team," Gump said. "Waters can outrun and outjump the opposition, but the ball will have to get to her faster."

He also explained that with so many new faces, the team will have to work on its ball control.

"We will have to be diverse and spread the ball around in order to be successful," he said.

Kutztown’s season begins on August 29 against Bowie State.