Teams: Volleyball: Press Releases

Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Written by Michael Douglas

CRONIN, HARRISON NAMED ALL-COAST GUARD INVITATIONAL

MEDFORD -- Senior tri-captain Amy Cronin (Kirkland, WA/Interlake) and freshman phenom Kelli Harrison (Blue Jay, CA/Rim of the World) were named to the All-Tournament Team at the Coast Guard Invitational this past Saturday (Sept. 13) in New London, Conn. The all-star tandem led the Jumbos to a 2-1 record and a second-place finish out of four teams at the tournament.

Cronin, who was named to the all-tournament squad at Coast Guard for the third straight year, amassed 31 kills (3.1 per game) and recorded eight blocks (four solo) in the three-match tournament. Like a true all-star, she played her best when the competition was the toughest, leading the squad with 17 kills and seven blocks (four solo) in a tight 3-2 loss to eventual champion Coast Guard. On the season, Cronin is second on the Jumbos with 54 kills (3.00 per game) and leads the team with 13 solo blocks (24 total). She is fifth in the New England Small College Athletic Conference in blocks per game (1.33).

Like Cronin three years before her, Harrison has burst onto the New England volleyball scene in the first few weeks of her collegiate career and has made an immediate impact on the team. In being named to the Coast Guard Invite All-Tournament squad, she amassed 32 kills (3.6 per game) to go with four service aces and six blocks (two solo) in nine games. And like her senior teammate, Harrison brought her 'A' game against Coast Guard, recording 16 kills, three service aces, and three blocks (one solo) in the loss. On the season, she has recorded a team-leading 70 kills (4.12 per game) and .335 hitting percentage to go with seven service aces and 17 blocks (seven solo). She is currently fourth in the NESCAC in kills per game and fifth in hitting percentage.

Head Coach Cora Thompson's squad is coming off a 20-13 season, her first as coach of the Jumbos. The team lost in the opening round of the 2002 NESCAC tournament, 3-1 to Amherst College. With the young talent of Harrison and veteran leadership of Cronin and her fellow tri-captains Dani Cafasso (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley) and Lindsey Moses (San Fransisco, CA/San Fransisco University HS), however, Coach Thompson's Jumbos have a great opportunity to improve on their 20 wins and advance further into the conference tournament in 2003.

The Jumbos currently stand at 3-2 as they head into the year's first NESCAC Weekend this Saturday (Sept. 19) at Williams College. The squad will face Middlebury, Hamilton, and Williams as they get their first taste of NESCAC competition this season.

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