Fall Teams Follow Up Fabulous Showings from 1996
AMHERST, Massachusetts -- Amherst Women's Volleyball will kick off the 1997-98 campaign for Amherst Athletics with its first match tonight against Keene State at 7:00pm in Alumni Gymnasium, Amherst, Massachusetts. With the exception of football, all of Amherst's fall teams begin their seasons in the next five days, including the Jeffs' first home weekend on Saturday, September 13.
Amherst volleyball concluded the 1996 season in its fourth-straight ECAC Tournament appearance and with a 23-14 record. The Firedogs return nine players from last season, including All-Conference outside hitter Kristin Edgar '99 (Colorado Springs, CO) and NESCAC All Tourament setter Elizabeth Delsman '98 (Brooklyn, NY). Once again leading the attack will be middle hitters Adrienne Beshong '98 (Melrose, MA) and Nell Berens '99 (Hamilton, MI).
Tonight will be the first of only two home-appearances by Amherst volleyball after posting a perfect record at home in 1996. In addition to tonight's match against Keene State, the Jeffs will host the fourth annual Amherst Invitational on Saturday, October 4th.
Field Hockey opens up the 1997 season tomorrow at Pioneer Valley rival Mount Holyoke tomorrow at 4:00pm. Last year the Jeffs claimed the program's first-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament as they finished the season with a 12-3 record as the No. 1 team in New England. All-American midfielder Irene Permut '99 (Wilmington, DE) leads the team, along with All-NESCAC goalie Jes Rich '99 (Stillwater, NY), who compiled a league-leading 0.71 GAA and .912 save percentage as she pushed her two-year career total to 14 shutouts. Senior forward Heather Kestner (Wilmington, DE) returns from a year's hiatus after scoring 10 goals and 3 assists as a sophomore. Returning to the atcordino (Closter, NJ), who led the team with 8 goals and an assist last year, along with Tyra Gettleman '00 (Orono, ME) and Regional All-American Marnie Huffman-Green '99 (Chevy Chase, MD).
Women's Golf follows up on Friday with its Fall Opener. Competing against Mount Holyoke, Smith and Franklin Pierce, Sarahneeya Chakkaphak '98 (Bangkok, Thailand), Jen Cramm '00 (Ridgefield, CT), Leah Ricci '99 (Brockton, MA) and All-ECAC Cyd Stevens '98 (Lee's Summit, MO) will look to take advantage of their own Amherst Golf Course.
Upcoming Amherst Athletic Schedule TONIGHT Volleyball v. Keene State 7:00 Thu Sept 11 Field Hockey at Mount Holyoke 4:00 Fri Sept 12 Women's Golf Fall Opener Fri-Sat Sept 12-13 Volleyball at Williams Invitational Sat Sept 13 Women's Soccer v. Trinity 11:00 Sat Sept 13 Women's Tennis at Trinity 11:00 Sat Sept 13 Cross Country Amherst Invitational Women's 5K 12:00 Men's 8K 1:00 Sat Sept 13 Field Hockey at WPI 1:00 Sat Sept 13 Men's Soccer Amherst Invitational Amherst v. UMass Dartmouth 1:00 St. Thomas (MN) v. WNEC 4:00 Sun Sept 14 Amherst v. St. Thomas (MN) 1:00 Sat-Sun Sept 13-14 Men's Golf at Duke Nelson Invitational, Middlebury, Vermont