Titans list four area starters

Four of the returning starters and the head coach of the highly-experienced Westminster College volleyball team this coming season hail from the Youngstown area.

Heading the roster for the New Wilmington, Pa., school is junior libero Kylene Hoch from Hubbard High, who was the 2006 Presidents’ Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

The other returning starters are senior defensive specialist Jenna Hinks (Mineral Ridge) and two other juniors — outside hitter Rachel Terzak (Austintown Fitch) and setter Traci Hassell (Hubbard).

The head coach is Tammy Swearingen of Columbiana, who is in her 15th season at the Westminster helm. She has achieved a 308-159 career record at Westminster, including nine 20-win and two 30-win seasons.

Last year, the Titans compiled a 24-12 record, including 10-2 in the PAC for first place and the top seed in the league tournament. They went on to become PAC semifinalists and received an invitation to the ECAC Division III South Region Championships, where they also were semifinalists.

Westminster will open this season at the Mount Union Invitational from Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

Hoch, Hassell, Terzak
sixth in PAC statistics

Hoch ranked sixth in the league in digs with 4.5 per game and 522 overall in 116 games. She also was the fourth-leading team member in service aces with 38.

Hassell, an All-PAC honorable mention, was sixth in the league in assists with 10.07 per game. She also was second on the team in blocks (104) while registering 353 digs, 101 kills and 34 service aces.

Meanwhile, Terzak ranked second on the team in kills with 2.51 per game and 286 overall, and fifth in blocks (38). She also recorded 182 digs, 40 service aces and 22 assists.

And Hinks ranked No. 2 in service aces (41) and third in digs (3.10 per game in 112 games). She enters the season with 523 career digs.

Swearingen, who also does double duty as Westminster’s assistant men’s and women’s swimming coach, has a strong area coaching background in several sports.

She previously served as head volleyball coach at Mineral Ridge (1988-90) and Columbiana (1986-88) highs before coming to Westminster in 1992.

And she also directed the Canfield High swimming team from 1987-92 and served as head softball coach at Columbiana from 1984-88.

Swearingen also guided the Youngstown State women’s swimming team from 1984-87, and in the process developed five All-Americans.

Hogue, Cooper, Parker
also back with Titans

Another returning starter to the Westminster volleyball team is senior middle hitter Danielle Hogue (Slippery Rock), while seniors Jess Cooper (New Castle, Laurel High) and Hannah Parker also are back after suffering season-long injuries last year. Cooper and Parker are two-year letter-winners with previous experience as starters.

Hogue ranked sixth in PAC hitting percentage (.320) and third on the team in blocks with 0.70 per game in 111 games and fourth in kills with 2.17 a game.

Cooper as a sophomore played in all 35 matches (123 games) and ranked third on the team with 2.09 kills per game and second with 109 blocks (0.89). Parker as a sophomore led the team with 580 digs (5.23) and had 39 service aces, 34 assists and 106 kills (0.95).

The Titans also have four reserves from last year, including sophomores Corrie Gasser (Hubbard) and Devin Kelley (Mercer). The others are Beth Copp and Sam Botzum. All four saw considerable action and are ready to step in for more playing time.

Gasser played in 52 games and ranked third on the team with 109 assists. She posted 102 digs (1.96), 10 aces and four kills. Copp played in 47 games and recorded 89 kills, 16 service aces, 58 digs and 10 blocks, while Botzum saw action in 20 games and Kelley in 14.

XJohn Kovach covers college athletics for The Vindicator. Write him at kovach@vindy.com.