Department of Athletics Announces Class of 2007 Women's Volleyball Recruits

by Sports Information
6/24/03

LANCASTER, PA - The Franklin & Marshall College Athletic Department has announced that the following list of recruits have submitted their deposit and declared their intention of joining the F&M women's volleyball team for the 2003 season:

Name (Position, Hometown/High School)
Alexis Dansky (OH/MB, Yardley, PA/The George School)
Elizabeth Haas (MB, Wrightsville, PA/Eastern York)
Nicole Kushman (OH, Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks West)

A 5'-6" outside hitter, Kushman led Central Bucks West to a 12-8 record and a second round appearance in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association District I Championship Tournament. In addition, she was awarded first team All-League honors and was voted the team's Most Valuable Player.

At middle blocker, 5'-8" Elizabeth Haas should factor in the Diplomats' lineup this year as she is coming off a season in which she led Eastern York High School to a 10-8 record.

Joining Kushman and Haas will be 5'-11" outside hitter/middle blocker Alexis Dansky who helped lead the George School to a 15-3 record in 2003, including the Academy of the New Church Tournament title.

First year head coach Mary Kate Boland will lead the trio and the rest of the Diplomats in 2003.

A 1998-2000 American Volleyball Coaches Association All Mid-Atlantic Region player, Boland averaged 10.19 assists per game to lead the Diplomats to a school record 34-6 mark, a perfect 10-0 conference record, the Centennial Conference Tournament title and a "Sweet 16" finish in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament as a senior.

Overall, she led F&M to the 1999 and 2000 Centennial Conference Championships and four consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearances while recording a 120-32 record from 1997-2000, the best four-year mark in program history.

A 2000 and 1999 first and 1998 second team All-Centennial Conference setter, she is ranked among the top ten in program history in digs (fourth, 1433), service aces (third, 241), blocks (seventh, 159) and assists (first, 4062). In addition, she is ranked 11th in career kills with 703, as Boland was one of two players in program history to rank in the Top 10 in five statistical categories at graduation.

Co-captain of the Diplomats in 2000, Boland holds school assists records for a game (23, vs. Roberts Wesleyan, 10/27/00), a season (1,356 in 1998), a career (4062) a four game match (63, vs. Pomona Pitzer, 9/15/00) and a five game match (75, vs. Grove City, 10/3/98). Further, she holds the Centennial Conference record for career assists.

The daughter of Villa Maria Academy head volleyball coach Joe Boland, she led Villa Maria to the 1996 PIAA District I and State Championships at setter to earn Daily Local News Player of the Year honors. In addition, Villa Maria earned three consecutive District I championships (1994-1996) as she was named to the PIAA All-State Volleyball Team in 1995 and 1996.

She takes over a Diplomats' program that finished the 2002 season with a 28-10 record while placing first at the F&M and University of Scranton Invitationals.

In Centennial Conference play, the Diplomats concluded the season 9-1 to finish second in the CC regular season standings, advance to the Conference title match and earn a bid to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) playoffs.