JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Saint Peter's University women's volleyball team is back in action for the program's 36th campaign. After the 2020 traditional fall season was postponed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the team will return to the court in the spring of 2021. The Peacocks' slate will consist of 10-matches against five Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponents over the month of March.
"I want to thank the Conference Presidents and Athletic Directors for working so hard that we could have a season," said Saint Peter's head coach
Joe Chojnacki. "Obviously with COVID-19 still very much a concern, we realize they could have just as easily said the risk was too great and cancelled. Athletics is an enriching part of the student-athlete experience and I'm thankful they recognized that and pushed for us to compete. We are looking forward to the chance to play the sport we love and be ambassadors of Saint Peter's Athletics. In the offseason we talked a lot about our culture and creating a more positive environment and holding our teammates accountable. We will use this season to implement these changes in our practices and games."
Saint Peter's 10-game MAAC schedule will feature five dates of doubleheaders from March 7 through 28. The team will have two tilts at home while traveling on the road three times. The Peacocks' season gets underway in Jersey City on Sunday, Mar. 7 when the team welcomes Niagara. Saint Peter's will hit the road for the next pair of bouts in New York, first heading to Loudonville for a date with Siena on Sunday, Mar. 14; then journeying to New Rochelle on Thursday, Mar. 18 for a meeting at Iona. The Peacocks come back to Jersey City on Sunday, Mar. 21 to host Quinnipiac, before concluding the regular season at hOURglass Rival Rider on Sunday, Mar. 28.
"Our upperclassman will hopefully guide our newcomers with their mentorship and with the way they play," Chojnacki added. "Senior
Karla Seda will be a focal point of our defense, as she was last year. Expect to see
Yaidelis Lopez-Jimenez,
Andrea Lombeyda, and
Alwen Pila also in the back row. On the offensive side I'm looking forward to seeing junior
Angeleyshka Curbelo step into a larger role.
Skylee Nelson and
Camille Thoennes will be helping her out on the pins as we continue to develop
Jeysi Montero as an effective blocker. In the Middle
Stephanie Rivera,
Brianna Jones and
Amaia Martin will all compete for time.
Wildalys Soto and
Jessee Grubesic will run the offense as our setters. We will have to come together as a group quickly since we did not practice as a team in the fall. It's an exciting time and it's a short season so we have to make each practice and each game count."
The top eight league teams will qualify for the 2021 MAAC Championship, which will be held from Apr. 1-3 at the Albany Capital Center in Albany, NY. Saint Peter's last won the MAAC championship title in 1990 and the team last secured a MAAC regular season title in 2001.
