LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. — The Lincoln University volleyball will open its season this weekend at the East Stroudsburg Volleyball Tournament in East Stroudsburg, Pa.

 

“We are extremely excited about our upcoming 2011 season,” Lincoln first-year head coach Lynsey Grace said. “I'm very proud of the amount of hard work my players have been putting in at practice. We are definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with in the CIAA. Not only does this squad exempplify heart and determination, they also have the 'never quit' attitude. We are in it to win it this season and will always splay hard in eery game that we play.”

 

The Lady Lions, who went 5-25, return six members off last year's squad. Cynthia Johnson (Randallstown, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) (Outside Hitter) leads all returners with 80 kills last season and Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS) (Setter) led the way with 243 assists. Erin Rucker (Shaker Heights, Ohio/Shaker Heights HS) (Outside Hitter) had 81 digs and 44 kills, Erika Bell (Owings Mills, Md./Baltimore Polytechnic Institute HS) (Libero) recorded 29 digs and 28 kills, while Nicole Wilmore (Baltimore, Md./Pikesville HS) (Outside Hitter) finished with 10 kills last season. Jasmine Graves (Bay Shore, N.Y./Brentwood HS) (Outside Hitter) is the final returner and saw limited action in 14 matches.

 

The new additions to the team include Zaikya Williams (Outside Hitter), Taraja Brooks (Setter), Jasmine Dabney (Baltimore, MD/New Town HS) (Middle Blocker) and Jasmine Baxter (Washington, D.C./McKinnley Tech) (Outside Hitter).

 

Lincoln begins play at the East Stroudsburg Volleyball Tournament 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2 with a match against Chestnut Hill. On Saturday, Sept. 3, the Lady Lions meet host East Stroudsburg at 10 a.m., and concluding the tournament at 2 p.m. against Caldwell.