Illinois Wesleyan Has Depth for Volleyball Improvement

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Nine letterwinners are back for the Illinois Wesleyan University volleyball team that aims for improvement from a disappointing 2005 season.
The Titans, who were 14-17 last fall, open their season at the Washington U. tournament with matches on Fri., Sept. 1 against No. 30-ranked Wartburg (3 p.m.) and Dominican (5:15 p.m.). On Sat., Sept. 2, the Titans play No. 21 Wisconsin-Platteville at 12:15 p.m., then take on No. 5-ranked Washington U. (35-2 in 2005) at 2:30 p.m.
Junior setter Jenna Passananti (Western Springs, LaGrange Lyons HS), a two-time all-College Conferemce of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, leads the returning players. Passananti was second in the conference in set assists with 10.96 per game and led the Titans in assists (1,222), digs (402) and service aces (46).
Heading into her junior year, Passananti is No. 6 all-time at IWU with 2652 assists and No. 20 with 844 defensive digs.
Junior Ashley Reed (Lemont HS) and senior Colleen Ernst (Lemont, Montini Catholic HS) are veterans returning as defensive specialists. Reed was second on the team with 376 digs while Ernst made 204.
“I’ve been impressed with our defensive play this preseason and that part of our game should be strong,” said Kim Nelson-Brown, who is entering her 11th season as IWU’s head coach with a career 219-149 record.
Seniors Melissa Serritella (St. Charles, North HS) and Natalie Quinton (Shirley, Sterling Newman HS) and 6-foot sophomore outside hitter Michelle Malinowski (Shorewood, Providence Catholic HS) provided offensive power last season and must fill the void left by the graduation of two-time team “MVP” Molly May.
Serritella was third on the team with 252 kills and 55 blocks while Malinowski was fourth with 241 kills and 46 blocks. Quinton was fifth on the 2005 squad with 126 kills and was third with 331 defensive digs.
Senior Lisa Cercello (Joliet, Providence Catholic HS), a 5-foot-8 outside hitter, played sparingly at IWU last season but was an all-conference and all-region performer while at Joliet Junior College and Nelson-Brown has been impressed with her early season play.
“We have a lot of depth offensively at every position which helps with the overall versatility of this team and allows for options as a coach,” said Nelson-Brown.
Senior Jaclyn Verticchio (Jacksonville HS), who is No. 3 all-time at IWU with 1195 digs, is moving from libero to outside hitter to provide depth in the front line.
Freshmen who could have an immediate impact include 5-foot-11 middle hitter Katie Butson (Troy, Ohio, Christian HS), who could find a spot among the starting lineup, and 5-foot-10 middle hitter Amy VanderVoorn (Morton HS).
The Titans’ schedule features matches against nine of the American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25 preseason teams, including a tournament at IWU Oct. 13-14 that brings in No. 1 Juniata (last year’s national runner-up), No. 3 LaVerne (Calif.), No. 19 Mount St. Joseph, and No. 21 Wisconsin-Platteville.
IWU, picked to finish fourth in the CCIW preseason poll, was 3-4 and tied for fourth in the regular season phase of the CCIW last fall.

CONTACT:Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206