New Era for Fayette Volleyball

A new era is upon the Penn State Fayette volleyball team.  After successful coach Sam Swetz stepped down after this past offseason, Joel Wingard was hired as the interim head coach and he is excited to get the season going.

"I am really excited and so far, we have a very evenly distributed amount of talent," he said of the mix of returning players and newcomers. "Everyone can come out at different points and pull the rest of the team along.  The biggest difference I see from last year when I was in the stands is the excitement and communication.  Coach Swetz did a great job during her run, and I hope we can keep it going."

The team opens play on Thursday, October 1 when Fayette hosts Pitt-Greensburg, and as far as team goals go, they are very similar to the high standards the previous teams set.

"Our main goals are to win the PSUAC (Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference) and make a run at the (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) national championships again," said Wingard, who still plays volleyball and travels the country playing. "A real goal, an underlying goal, is to maintain the legacy of the Fayette program and be the team to beat in the conference.  Fayette has always been 'the program' around here for schools our size."

 Wingard spoke about how the PSUAC has improved.

"The rest of the conference has risen and are playing at a higher level," he said. "Our goal is to implement an even higher level.  We have internal team goals, including each girl improving with advanced techniques."

The team has four returning starters in Alie McGee (Carmichaels, PA/Carmichaels HS), Angel Driso-Buwawa (Uniontown, PA/Uniontown HS), Kamden Miller (Midland, PA/Lincoln Park) and Kenzie Hall (Fairchance, PA/Albert Gallatin HS).

"They all have solid experience, and we want to build off of it," Wingard said.

Ashlee Norman (Highlands Ranch, CO/Highlands Ranch HS), Tyannah Eddings (Uniontown, PA/Uniontown HS), Abigail Bradley-Rash (Lake Lynn, PA/Albert Gallatin) and Meghan Goodnight (Wheeling, WV/The Linsly School) are the other returning players.

"They also saw key time," Wingard said. "Ashlee is in a new spot of leadership.  In the offseason, she has worked extremely hard and is intentional with everything she does.  She is a huge team player."

Newcomers include Emma Eckert (Smithfield, PA/Albert Gallatin HS), Maria Vanyo (Irwin, PA/Yough HS), Sydney Ehrhardt (Rockwood, PA/Rockwood HS), Bella Buwawa (Fort Worth, TX/North Crowley HS) and Adela Blough (Farmington, PA/The Mount Academy).

"I am excited about our returning experience and players, and I am happy with our newcomers," Wingard said. "Our new players are bringing in some talent and will be involved."

After facing Pitt Greensburg, Fayette heads to Penn State Beaver for the USCAA Tipoff this weekend.

For more on the Penn State Fayette volleyball team, go to https://psfathletics.com/sports/sball/index.