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Women's Volleyball Team Entering 2022 Full of Promise and Potential

August 30, 2022

Delaware Tech's women's volleyball team went through the 2021 season with a lot of first-year collegiate players and had some issues staying healthy. Entering 2022, the team has seven returning players from 2021 and five incoming freshmen, which will provide a lot of depth just in case the injury bug returns.

"My goal is to build upon our 2021 season with gusto," Head Coach Leigh DeSantis said. "We went to regionals a little under the weather and without our full line-up. We were immediately at a disadvantage. This season my goal is to keep our players healthy and playing strong into regionals."

Returning to the team this year are 2021 NJCAA Region 19 All-Region players Isabella Denk and Alexcia Sutton, as well as Morgan Donahue, who was named the team's most valuable player at the end of last season, and Isadora Reichner, who received the team's sportsmanship award. Also returning are Kailee Gautier, who injured her knee in pre-season last year and was unable to play in 2021, Nylah Brown, and Carolyn Segletes.

DeSantis said Gautier and Donahue will serve as team captains this year.

"Both bring amazing and different leadership styles on and off the court and I am excited to see them lead this team of student-athletes throughout the season," she said.

New to the team this season are Ashley Kelly of Delaware Military Academy, Paige Orth of Polytech High School, Cassie Swift of Smyrna High School, Lily Bosch of Charter School of Wilmington, and Hailey Grotegut of St. Elizabeth.

"We have a great incoming class this year," DeSantis said. "All of them are dedicated, driven, and passionate about the game."

Throughout pre-season, DeSantis has seen certain characteristics about the team that she feels will be a strength throughout the year.

"This group of athletes does a great job of self-reflection," DeSantis said. "We win and lose as a team and the only way to improve is to understand our weaknesses. It takes a lot for a student-athlete to understand their part in not only the successes but also the failures."

DeSantis is in her first season as head coach after previously serving as assistant coach. She will be joined on the sideline by Sydney Armbrister as assistant coach. They will aim to lead Delaware Tech to a successful season and an even more successful post-season.

"The players just need to remember that this is a team sport," DeSantis said. "The only way we do it is together. All the wins and all the losses we will do together, so our attitudes, passion, and dedication to the team is what will allow us to persevere through the rough spots and keep bringing us back to the good."