Erie Community College, State University of New York

Katie Boxler and Belinda Hernon recognized by Region III

Two members of the Erie Community College volleyball team earned All-Region III recognition for their performances during the 2009 season. Freshman setter Katie Boxler (Varysburg/Attica High School) was named to the First Team and sophomore middle hitter Belinda Hernon (Warren, OH/Warren G. Harding High School) was recognized on the Second Team.

Boxler played all 121 games for the Kats in 2009 and ranked first in the region and eighth in the country with 8.74 assists per game. She also led the team with a .440 hitting percentage and finished the year with 109 kills and 86 service aces.

Hernon paced the Kats with 2.67 kills per game and finished with 55 blocks, 35 service aces and 3.04 digs per game.

Erie finished the 2009 season with a 35-7 record. It is the most wins for an Erie squad since the 1985 team that finished 41-2.

Volleyball Earns Second Seed, Four Kats Named to All-Conference Team

The Erie Community College volleyball has earned the second seed in the NJCAA Region III Division III tournament to be played this Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 at Corning Community College.

Erie (33-5) is in a pool with No. 3 Corning, No. 6 Alfred State College and the winner of a subregional game between No. 7 Monroe Community College and No. 10 Herkimer  County Community College. The top two teams in the pool will advance to the regional semifinals.

The Region III champion will advance to play in the NJCAA Division III championship in Rochester, Minnesota on November 13-14.

In addition, four members of the volleyball team earned All-Western New York Athletic Conference recognition. Freshmen Katie Boxler and Alex DiGiore received First Team honors and sophomore Belinda Hernon and freshman Jluia matters were named to the Third Team.

Volleyball defeats Finger Lakes for 30th win

The Erie Community College (30-5/17-4 Region III) ascended the 30-win plateau for the first time since 1986 with a 25-16, 25-12, 25-13 win at Finger Lakes Community College Monday.

Alex DiGiore led the way for the Kats with 16 kills. Freshman Julia Matters had nine service aces and freshman Katie Boxler finished with 32 assists.

“All of our hitters played very smart and controlled tonight,” said Head Coach Craig Starzynski. “We kept the ball in play and really unloaded when we the opportunity.”

Erie returns to action when it hosts Niagara County Community College at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 15.

September 27, 2009
Lady Kats volleyball improves to 21-2

The feel good story of the fall athletic season took another step forward September 27 in Massachusetts when the Erie Community College women’s volleyball team improved their season record to 21-2.

The team won eight-straight matches and tournament championship at the Holyoke Community College tournament.

On Saturday, the team defeated the UMass club team 25-12, and 25-17. They then followed that up with 25-7, 25-8 win over Hesser College.

In match three, the Lady Kats bested New Hampshire Tech 25-11 and 25-15 to enter Sunday undefeated.

Sunday opened with a match versus Springfield Tech and another victory. Erie then faced the host school, Holyoke Community College, whom they had defeated Friday night in a tune-up for the tournament.

The Lady Kats repeated the feat and set up a match with Northern Essex who they defeated 25-17 and 25-14 to move into the tournament semi-finals and a rematch with the UMass club team.

In that rematch, Erie cruised into the finals with a 25-20 and 25-18 victory.

Facing Springfield Tech in the finals, the team had all they could handle.  After winning game one 25-20, they dropped their first game of the tournament 32-30, setting up a winner-take-all third game.

In that third game, another close game went to Erie15-13, giving Head Coach Starzynski the tournament title.  “Katie (Boxler) played awesome this weekend, every time we needed a big point, she stepped up with a perfect set or big kill,” stated Starzynski of his 5’8’ setter.

Boxler (Attica/Attica) led the team with 195 assists and Julia Matters (North Tonawanda/Starpoint) had 65 digs over the tournament. Belinda Hernon (Warren, OH/Warren Harding) also had 59 kills to lead the tournament.

The team returns to action the weekend of October 3rd when they travel to the TC3 tournament.

September 22, 2009
# 7 Erie-3, Monroe CC- 0
Erie defeats Monroe for first time in 26 years

The Erie Community College women’s volleyball team swept Monroe Community College Tuesday September 22 in the Burt Flickinger Center to improve their season record 12-2, their best start in over 20 years.

The Lady Kats, ranked seventh in the recently released poll, moved up two spots from last week’s poll.

Erie won the first game versus Monroe 26-24 after losing a 15-6 lead and seeing the Tribunes pull even four times before they eventually won the first game.

The second game was a pivotal back-and-forth affair that saw four lead changes and Monroe at game point twice with Erie fighting back each time. Julia Matters served a key ace that helped the Lady Kats claim an exciting 29-27 decision in game two.

Erie led most of the third game and ended up running away with a 25-18 decision to sweep the Tribunes.

“We knew this was a big game for us and our athletes really stepped up. Analys anchors our back row defensively and she killed it tonight. Offensively, our outsides Julia and Alex played very solid. They're playing so strong and consistent right now, I think they're the best 1-2 outside attack in our region,” stated Head Coach Craig Starzynski.

It was Erie’s first win against Monroe in 26 years.

Analys Roig led the team with 27 digs, Alex DiGiore had 13 kills, and Matters ended with six aces and 11 kills. Katie Boxler also added seven kills and 30 assists.

Erie (12-2, 8-1) will next be in action the weekend of September 26 when they travel to Massachusetts to play in the Holyoke Tournament.