For the first time since 2008, the Mount St. Joseph University women's volleyball program is ranked in the top-25 in the nation.
CINCINNATI, Ohio - For the first time since 2008, the Mount St. Joseph University women's volleyball program is ranked in the top-25 in the nation. Once a powerhouse in the NAIA and during the early years of the program's run in the NCAA, the Lions have not been ranked in the top-25 in more than a decade. This week, the first week of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) coaches poll for this non-traditional spring season the Lions check in at #13 in the country.
In what is just Coach John Spinney's second season at the helm of the Lions, he and assistant coach Jenna Fessler have returned the Lions to relevance not only in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC), but are starting to get national recognition for what they are building. Coach Spinney has an extensive resume of building winning programs where ever he goes, and coming back to a place where he was a part of so many successful teams as an assistant coach makes this all the more rewarding.
The Lions achieve this honor while quite possibly having the youngest roster amongst all of the teams currently ranked inside the top-25. The Mount typically plays a lineup that is almost all sophomores and freshmen. The lone upper classmen amongst the regular players is junior Riley Gintert. Their unequivocal leader on the floor has been reigning HCAC freshman of the year in Brooke Aselage, who has been a 6-rotation player for the entire season. She finds herself amongst the HCAC's leaders in numerous categories. Other members of that sophomore class have been vital pieces for The Mount this season as well, setter Sam Buschur, defensive specialist Brooklyn Brunner and middle hitter Kyla Henderson are also key contributors.
Last season's class of freshmen, now sophomores, were an extremely solid foundation to build on for Coach Spinney. With the addition of this years recruiting class, he has quickly increased the overall talent level and athleticism on the team. This season's freshmen class is littered with potential all-HCAC caliber players, and that has been on display all season. That group has been headlined by hitters Grace Young, Emily Abshire and Addie Conley along with libero Erin Androne who have solidified the lineup for the Lions.
Just a season ago, they put together a solid 14-12 overall record but a disappointing 3-6 mark within HCAC play. This season they have put together a stellar 12-4 overall record and a 7-2 record inside the HCAC. That 7-2 record was good enough to claim the second seed in the upcoming HCAC tournament which will begin Friday night as the Lions play host to the Grizzlies of Franklin College. That match is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m., tune into MSJLions.com for all of your live game coverage.