ECC First Team member Monika Kasperek-Szulc returns to action this Friday
Oakdale, NY- The 2009 East Region Champion Volleyball team returns to action this Friday as they go up against Pace University at 12:30 PM. Dowling returns twelve of thirteen players from last season, looking for their fifth East Regional Title in six years.
The Golden Lions opened up last year against Pace, defeating the Setters in four sets and going on to win their next four matches. The 2010 opening weekend will see Dowling take on Adelphi University and Stonehill College on Saturday before traveling to Massachusetts on September 11th. While there, the Golden Lions are set to face off against many familiar foes including Bentley University whom they defeated 3-0 in the 2009 East Regionals last November.
Dowling returns to Oakdale on September 25th where they will face UMass Lowell at 1:00 PM and Merrimack College at 3:00 PM. This is followed by four straight ECC matches, ending with a trip to the University of Bridgeport on October 8th for a rematch of the 2009 East Regional Final where Dowling defeated the Purple Knights, 3-1, to advance to the Elite Eight.
October 13th will see the Golden Lions travel to Connecticut to face the former ECC foe University of New Haven, another participant in the East Regional last year.
Dowling will participate in another tri-match, this time in Brookville, NY starting on October 23rd, facing off against ECC rival C.W. Post University twice during the tournament.
After another meeting with the Purple Knights in Oakdale, NY on November 2nd, the Golden Lions will round out the regular season on the road as they face off against NYIT on the 9th at 7:00 PM.
Head Coach
Alex Koszalka has a lot to look forward to with All-American and two-time ECC Player of the Year
Maja Potpara returning to the mix. All-East Region team members
Patrycja Klekotka and Monika Kasperek return to the court for Dowling as well, with ECC Rookie of the Year
Bethany Shepard coming back for her sophomore year.
"We were able to make it pretty far on the talent we had last year and I have high hopes for another good run in 2010 as our freshmen come back with a year of experience under their belts and the upperclassmen contributing as always." said Koszalka.