JOHNSTOWN – Candidates for the 2014 Lady Raiders volleyball team stepped onto the Raiders Den court for the first time on Monday. The team finished third in the Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) last year, and is looking for an even stronger season this year.

Head Coach Rachael Salvione welcomed back two very strong players:  MVC All-Tournament Team member Whitney Ostrander and steady outside hitter Liz Hayward. Also welcomed into the FM fold are transfer volleyball veterans Karissa Morrey and Zara Hyde and former FM player Kaylee Gillen. Morrey played for Delhi and Hyde played for Herkimer last season, while Gillen sat out for a year.

Photo:  Whitney Ostrander plays the ball

 

Seven MVC schools compete in volleyball, and FM will meet all six of their MVC opponents:  Adirondack, Columbia-Greene, Delhi, Herkimer, Hudson Valley, and Mohawk Valley. (Ed Note: Next season, 2015, North Country Community College will join the MVC volleyball competition.)

Photo:  Freshman Kaylee Robinson bumps the ball

The Lady Raiders will also play non-conference matches and will compete in five "Pod" matches. The Pod events have four or more teams meeting in one location, with each team usually playing three other contestants.

The season kicks off on Wednesday, September 10, with FM hosting always-tough Adirondack.

              C.J. Bonny, website writer

Photo:  Coaches Rachael Salvione (in FMCC shirt), Tina Oyler (on Salvione's right), and Nicole MacGregor (on Salvione's left) address the players

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