NEW PALTZ – — First-year SUNY New Paltz head women’s volleyball coach Matt Giufre believes his team can contend for a conference tournament appearance in 2002. Giufre, who spent four years as an assistant coach at SUNYAC rival and perennial national championship contender Cortland, hopes to have the Hawks in contention for a SUNYAC post-season appearance despite a roster with only two seniors and one junior. “We have the capability of being very competitive within the conference and should have a legitimate shot at the number two seed in the east,” said Giufre. “Our goal is to be one of the top three to qualify for the post-season tournament. We play a difficult non-conference schedule that should help us gain experience and prepare us for the league portion of the schedule.”
Coach Giufre will look for senior Jackie Goldstein (Port Jervis, NY), a transfer from Wagner College, to lead the team this season. “Jackie will be the big gun for us,” said Giufre. “She brings a lot of experience and really raises the level of all of her teammates.”
He also hopes for contributions from senior Heidi Dippel (Levittown, NY), junior Wendy Del Orbe (New York, NY) and sophomore Christina Butcher (North Salem, NY). “I look for good things from Heidi and Wendy and I expect a lot out of them and Christina is our top defensive player.”
Giufre is also pleased with freshmen Andrea Kaiser (Blue Point, NY) and Christina Mazurowski (Tonawanda, NY) and feels they can be successful at the collegiate level. “Andrea and Christina are certainly going to be impact players as freshmen and I look for them to have good years.”
The 2002 season for the women’s volleyball team kicks off this Saturday at the Skidmore Invitational.
