Merrimack Volleyball Set for 2011 Campaign

first-year head coach TJ Hajjar announced the 2011 volleyball schedule on Wednesday.

Hajjar welcomes five newcomers who will join the five returnees on a squad that opens play on September 3 at Saint Anselm.

Merrimack will have six non-conference matches completed before it opens at home against Southern New Hampshire on September 15.

“Our season truly begins during preseason this year,” said Hajjar. “With only five returners back and graduating both of our captains, our upperclassmen need to learn to be leaders right away. I am confident that all the newcomers will have a tremendous impact right away. All five of them were captains on their high school and club teams which will help us find our groove early in the year.”

In all, Merrimack will have 10 regular season home games and an exhibition match, against New Brunswick on October 7.

In 2010, the Warriors finished in eighth place in the conference with a 12-14 record overall, 9-6 in the league before falling to New Haven in the quarterfinals.

This year, Hajjar’s squad will need to replace its five departed seniors who etched their names throughout the Merrimack record books, leading the Warriors to their first two NCAA Tournaments ever, two conference championship appaearances, and a school record 21 wins in 2008.

“The girls are very excited and patiently waiting for the season to begin,” said Hajjar. “They have all been working really hard in the offseason as they all feel they have something to prove this year.”

Leading the way will be juniors Jenna Reilly of Northport, N.Y., Shaunda Forcier of Gonic, N.H., Natalee Yeazle of Blaine, Maine, Brianna Trabucco of Canton and senior Nicole Duarte of Windham, N.H.

In an eight-day span from Sep. 27 to Oct. 5, Merrimack will host four big conference matches against Saint Michael’s, UMass Lowell, Stonehill and Southern Connecticut, while also visiting New Haven on September 30.

The Warriors will host rival Bentley on October 18 and conclude the regular season with back-to-back home matches against Le Moyne on November 4 and Saint Rose on November 5.

“I think our expectations for the season are to do better than we did last year. I truly believe with hard work and dedication, this team can compete with the best.”