The pieces are in place. Head coach Ashley McDonough feels that this is her best team "on paper" headed into the 2022 season. So now the real work begins … on the court.
"This is the most experienced and most talented team we've had in the past couple of seasons and have high expectations that we will make a tournament run in November", said McDonough.
The Ladies are set to open their regular season on Friday, Sept. 2 versus Howard Payne University in the Mary Hardin-Baylor Tournament in Belton, Texas. Centenary will also face host Mary Hardin-Baylor and Hendrix in the two-day event.
Centenary opens its home schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 6 versus Texas A&M-Texarkana in a non-conference match set for 6 p.m. in the Gold Dome. The Maroon and White begin Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Sept. 24 at home as they welcome four conference opponents to town for a two-day crossover event.
The Ladies are scheduled to play 34 regular-season matches, 16 within the conference and 18 against non-conference opposition. Centenary will face Louisiana Christian University (formerly Louisiana College) on Tuesday, Oct. 25 in its annual Senior Night match set for 6 p.m. The Ladies will play 10 home matches this season before finishing the season on the road versus Austin College and the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas Oct. 28-29. Centenary finished 15-22 overall last season and 2-14 in conference play. The Ladies finished 9-2 at home with an impressive eight sweeps and went 13-8 against non-conference competition.
As always, we have a very tough schedule," said McDonough. "The SCAC is arguably the best Division III volleyball conference in the country and presently has three top 20 programs with Trinity, Colorado, and Southwestern."
"Our non-conference schedule is a strong mix of talent and divisions (NAIA, NCAA D3, NCAA DII) to prepare us for conference. Mary Hardin Baylor finished last season nationally ranked inside the top 10 and Southern Arkansas (Division II) will display a different look and style of play than we are used to seeing."
Headlining the list of returning players is Senior Outside Hitter Alyssa Davis (Leonard, Texas), who was named to the 2021 All-SCAC Volleyball Third Team, as she landed on the third team for the second-consecutive season and is the first player in the division III era (2011-present) to be named All-SCAC twice. Davis is also just the second Centenary volleyball player in program history (D1 or D3) to be named all-conference more than once.
Davis topped 1,000 career kills last season in a home match against Schreiner in October, recording 20 kills and now ranks second all-time in the D3 era in program history in kills with 1,082 and is just 74 away from the record. Davis is also only 169 kills shy of the school's all-time record for kills, D1 or D3 and currently ranks in the top five in the division III era in six different statistical categories. Davis, despite missing the final 11 games of the season due to injury, still finished fourth in the SCAC in kills and also posted a .232 hitting percentage, tops on the team. She had 17 aces, and posted double-digit digs and kills in the same match an impressive 11 times.
Senior DS/L Jaycie Proctor (Paris, Texas) had another superb season in 2021 as she led the team with 324 digs (eighth-most in the conference) in 28 matches and 86 sets. She had 50 assists, 14 aces, and four kills, averaged 3.77 digs per set and had 18 matches with double-digit digs. Proctor had 20 or more digs three times and her season high was 24 on two occasions – Oct. 1 against Schreiner and then again versus the Mountaineers on Oct. 17. She is currently atop the Ladies' record book in career digs per set (4.23), and is 10th all-time in career digs (554).
Sophomore RS Jaylin St. Martin (New Orleans, La.) had an outstanding debut season for the Ladies as she finished second on the team in kills with 232 and fourth in digs with 188. She played in 32 matches and 102 sets and averaged 2.27 kills/set and 1.84 digs/set. She currently ranks sixth all-time in the D3 era in total blocks per set (0.43) and sixth in points per set in a career (2.60).
Senior S/RS Rachel Demerjian (Glendora, Calif.) is back on the court this season after missing all of the 2021 season due to an injury. Demerjian, like Davis, is one of the most decorated and accomplished players in the D3 era as her name is sprinkled throughout the Ladies' career record book. She currently ranks in the top 10 in career hitting percentage (#6 - .182), assists in a career (#1 – 2,457), assists per set in a career (#2 – 8.36), aces in a career (#10 – 63), and digs per set in a career (#9 – 2.85).
Senior MB Caroline Richmond (Marquez, Texas) has rejoined the Ladies' squad after transferring following a fantastic rookie season in 2020 as she played in all 14 of the Ladies' matches and 52 sets. She ranked second on the team with 131 kills and third in digs with 130. Richmond averaged 2.52 kills per set and 2.50 digs per set and tallied double digits in both digs and kills six times each. Senior MB Liz Lowe (San Antonio, Texas) is another member of the strong Ladies' senior class as she currently ranks sixth all-time in solo blocks in a career (22), tied for eighth all-time in assisted blocks in a career (71), seventh in total blocks (93), and seventh in total blocks per set (0.41).
"We have 15 returners including a pair of key fifth-year players in Rachel Demerjian and Alyssa Davis, who are both looking for senior year redemption after facing early season ending injuries in 2021," said McDonough.
"We've expanded our coaching staff by adding two familiar Volunteer Assistant Coaches; Demetria Keys-Johnson and Marichael Clarin-Jante. Coach Johnson comes to Centenary after coaching with our Division 1 neighbor Grambling State University for nearly 20 years. Marichael "Mika" just finished her playing career with the Ladies and will be completing her MBA. I am excited to add more experience and knowledge to the gym with this staff and our freshmen class is versatile and strong as all positions are represented. This extra layer of depth is very exciting."
"Jaycie "Sunshine" Proctor will be graduating early in December and is really excited to finish her career strong before starting dental school. She's been our Libero for the past couple of years and is the cornerstone of our defense," said McDonough.
"Caroline Richmond had an outstanding showing her freshman year (COVID) but didn't play with us this past fall after transferring then transferring back. She is an incredibly dynamic attacker and defensive player so having her back on the roster pads our depth at outside and middle. Southpaw Jaylin St. Martin puts up a nasty block on the right side and has an incredible game IQ. Her stellar work ethic and court vision makes her both an offensive and defensive threat."
"Freshman MB Susi Curtis (Haslet, Texas) helped lead Eaton High School all the way to the 6A State Semi-Finals this past season losing to Keller High School, who ultimately took the state title. Susi was a key player for Eaton bringing high energy and power at the net. Not only is Susi an incredible athlete but she's also a member of the renowned Centenary Choir and has sung the National Anthem at several USA Volleyball Junior Qualifiers."
"Freshman OH Jaeda Moreno (Weslaco, Texas) is an undersized but never underestimated outside hitter, and at a whopping 5'6 she's playing elbows above the net. Her physical capabilities and "gym rat" work ethic will take her far at the college level"
The 2022 SCAC Volleyball Championship is scheduled for Nov. 4-6 in Colorado Springs, Col. and hosted by Colorado College. Centenary was predicted to finish ninth in the conference's preseason poll.
See the complete Ladies' schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/wvball/2022-23/schedule
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