MARISA BARAN Captain #17
5-9 Junior Outside Hitter
BIRTHDATE: October 23, 1981
HOMETOWN: East Northport, NY
HIGH SCHOOL: Commack
MAJOR: Elementary Education
CONCENTRATION: Psychology/Sociology
PARENTS: Pat and Mike Baran
SIBLINGS: Michael and Brittany
FAVORITES:
Team: New York Knicks
Musical Act: Billy Joel
Movie: ?My Best Friend?s Wedding?
Celebrity: Adam Sadler
Activities/Interests: Running, weight lifting and swimming
ROLE MODEL: My parents
ATHLETIC HONORS: In high school, being named all conference, all county tournament team, all league honorable mention and scholar athlete. MVP Southampton women?s volleyball Fall 1999.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: ?Playing in a tournament in California where 800 teams attended.?
As one of the Lady Colonials? team captains, Marisa Baran is always striving to better herself. "My goal is to make the playoffs and continue to become a stronger player both offensively and defensively," she said.
Marisa attended Commack High School in Northport, New York, and according to Coach Jaak Raudsepp "has outstanding energy on the court." But that is only one aspect of her game that stands out. As a team captain, her leadership will help build the foundation for Southampton Graduate Campus' future. "She has such a great personality," explained student assistant and former volleyball star Noelle Kuhn, "which is probably what makes her such a great team leader. She is really looked up to by the freshmen on the team, and that's important."
Described as an "exceptionally smart player" by Raudsepp, she is adept at getting around a block and is an excellent passer.
BROOKE OBAD Captain #8
5-4 Senior Setter
BIRTHDATE: April 25, 1980
HOMETOWN: Hamburg, NY
HIGH SCHOOL: Frontier
MAJOR: Elementary Education
MINOR: Psychology/Sociology
PARENTS: Charles and Christine Obad
SIBLINGS: Jill
FAVORITES:
Athlete/Celebrity: Sean William Scott
Musical Act: Tim McGraw
Book: ?A Boy Called It?
Movie: ?Top Gun?
ROLE MODEL: Dorothy Dalsimer
ATHLETIC HONORS: In college, made all-tournament teams every year, freshman and sophomore MVP, Best Defense award as a junior, 15th in the country for serving last year
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?We have a young starting line-up but a lot of talent. If we work hard at practices and play hard, then we should give other teams a good fight.?
Senior Brooke Obad returns as a team captain and will provide the Lady Colonials with a blend of intensity and leadership that will contribute to a successful campaign.
Brooke, who attended Frontier High School in Hamburg, New York, serves as the inspirational leader and setter for Southampton. She led the team with 886 assists, 53 serving aces and was second in digs with 227 last year.
"She's incredibly quick and an extremely intense player," said coach Jaak Raudsepp, who also praised her ability to communicate on the floor. Former teammate and current student assistant Noelle Kuhn explained, "When she gives directions on the court, players trust her and follow her leadership."
Noted for the rare ability to give perfect sets, Brooke sets a fine example on and off the floor. "She is not afraid to speak up and motivate or provide strategies, especially during time-outs," added Kuhn.
SOPHIA ALEXIOU #9
5-4 Senior Setter
BIRTHDATE: February 22, 1980
HOMETOWN: Astoria, NY
HIGH SCHOOL: Francis Lewis
MAJOR: Marine Science Biology
PARENTS: Maria and Niko Alexiou
SIBLINGS: Alkestis
FAVORITES:
Team: U.S. Beach Volleyball Team
Musical Act: Led Zepplin
Book: ?The Catcher in the Rye?
Movie: ?The Professional?
Celebrity: Gary Sinise
Activities/Interests: Volleyball, swimming, and sailing
ROLE MODEL: My parents
ATHLETIC HONORS: MVP club soccer in U.S. Student athlete at Hunter College-CUNY.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: Making the NCAA finals bid, Division III (Hunter College)
GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?Having fun!?
Every team needs a player like Sophia Alexiou. A native New Yorker who attended Francis Lewis High School in Astoria, Queens, Coach Jaak Raudsepp said she "can overwhelm a team with inspiration."
Winner of a Most Valuable Player Award in soccer in high school, Sophia lists her favorite athletic moment as making a Division III NCAA Finals bid when she attended Hunter College. She brings a lot of energy to the floor, which can be very contagious. "She is very enthusiastic and is incredible at bringing the team up," said Raudsepp. ?Quick on the floor, she is also adept as a defensive passer.?
CYNTHIA CLEARY #18
6-3 Junior Opposite Hitter
BIRTHDATE: November 3, 1980
HOMETOWN: Omaha, NE
HIGH SCHOOL: Omaha Benson
MAJOR: Biology
PARENTS: Richard and Connie Cleary
SIBLINGS: Christine and Colleen
FAVORITES:
Team: Nebraska Huskers
Athlete: Gary Hall, Jr.
Musical Acts: U2, Enya, Tim McGraw, The Beatles
Movies: ?Top Gun,? ?Shawshank Redemption?
Activities/Interests: Reading, playing sports, playing saxophone and piano, spending time with family, spending time with God.
ROLE MODEL: My family and my high school band director, Michelle Bluford
ATHLETIC HONORS: High school varsity letter all four years in volleyball, swimming and tennis.
Standing tall at six-foot-three, Cindy Cleary creates an imposing presence on the floor and gives the Lady Colonials a lethal blocking weapon.
From Benson High School in Omaha Nebraska, Cindy was second on the team last year with 43 blocking aces and ranked third with 132 kills. "She's an amazing blocker who also has the ability to get through blocks," said Coach Jaak Raudsepp. He added that her game is complemented with a really "wicked" swing.
Still, Cindy is ready for continued improvement. "I expect to improve my game and have fun playing volleyball," she said. "I also aim to increase my number of blocks and increase my kill efficiency."
ERIN FIELD #5
5-5 Freshman Setter
BIRTHDATE: August 31, 1983
HOMETOWN: Deep River, CT
HIGH SCHOOL: Valley Regional
MAJOR: Marine Biology
PARENTS: Calvin and Debbie Field
SIBLINGS: Linda
FAVORITES:
Team: Miami Dolphins
Book: ?The Count of Monte Cristo?
Athlete/Celebrity: Pete Sampras
Musical Act: The Goo Goo Dolls
Movie: ?The Whole Nine Yards?
Activities/Interests: Playing sports, playing the flute, hiking.
ROLE MODELS: My parents
ATHLETIC HONORS: In high school, first team All-Shoreline, Connecticut All-State, Most Valuable Player, Serving Award, Warrior Award, Connecticut Scholar Athlete Award, Shoreline Scholar Athlete Award, senior captain.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: ?Beating a league team that hadn?t lost a match in six years.?
GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?To work hard, improve my skills, and have fun.?
Freshman Erin Field comes to Southampton with an impressive resume of achievements. A standout player from Valley Regional High School in Deep River, Conn., she was a team captain and won several awards, along with being recognized for her exceptional serving talent.
"She is a very intelligent player who has great communication skills on the court," said coach Jaak Raudsepp.
ERIN HALL #15
5-8 Junior Outside Hitter
BIRTHDATE: October 24, 1980
HOMETOWN: Beaver Falls, PA
HIGH SCHOOL: Blackhawk
MAJOR: Psych-Bio
PARENTS: Ronald and Janet Hall
SIBLINGS: Brian and Caitlin
FAVORITES:
Team: South Carolina Colonials
Book: ?The Color Purple?
Athlete/Celebrity: Gabby Reese
Musical Act: Train
Movie: ?Fear?
Activities/Interests: Sailing, hiking, animal studies
ROLE MODEL: My parents
ATHLETIC HONORS: In high school, varsity letter and captain. Chosen for premier volleyball club.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: Against Adelphi last year, ?when we took them to five games and played the best I?ve ever seen our team play.?
GOALS AND/OR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?To have fun, be proud of the team I?m on and make it to the playoffs.?
Junior Erin Hall is proud to be a member of the Lady Colonials and hopes to make a contribution this season.
Erin played volleyball for Blackhawk High School in Beaver Falls, Penn., where she was named captain of her varsity high school team and selected as a member of the prestigious Premier Volleyball Club. According to Coach Jaak Raudsepp, "Erin is an exceptional passer who can get the ball to the target every time."
ALLISON HOYT #3
5-11 Sophomore Middle Blocker
BIRTHDATE: October 7, 1882
HOMETOWN: Syosett, NY
HIGH SCHOOL: Syosett
MAJORS: Psychology and English
MINOR: Secondary Education
PARENTS: Gale and Richard Hoyt
SIBLINGS: Jennifer
FAVORITES:
Team: New York Mets
Book: ?Bad as I Wanna to Be?
Athlete/Celebrity: Angelina Jolie
Musical Act: Beatles, Nirvana, everything
Movie: ?Mary Poppins? and ?Run Lola Run?
Activities/Interests: Playing guitar and piano, music, poetry, sports gardening
ATHLETIC HONORS: Named Most Improved Player last year for the Colonials. In high school, All County Volleyball, Syosset High School, 1999, All County Softball, Syosset High School, 1998, 1999, 2000, Connie Kulik Award (Best Athlete of Senior Class) Syosett High School, 2000.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: ?Receiving an athletic scholarship to Southampton Graduate Campus.?
GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?I will hopefully recover 100% from my surgery, work very hard to play at the best of my ability and contribute positively to the volleyball team.?
Although she is recovering from surgery and is expected to red shirt this season, Allison Hoyt still hopes to contribute positively to the Lady Colonials in whatever way she can.
Winner of the Most Improved Player Award at Southampton Graduate Campus in 2000, Allison has a track record of success throughout her athletic career. At Syosset High School, she made All County in volleyball and softball, was recognized as the best athlete of the senior class, and awarded the Connie Kulik Award.
Allison played middle hitter and had a stellar year for Southampton in 2000. She was among the team leaders last season, ranking second with 135 kills, third in blocking aces with 42 and had 26 serving aces.
"She is incredible in the middle and constantly gets around the block," said former teammate and student assistant Noelle Kuhn.
CARRIE JACK #12
5-9 Sophomore Outside Hitter
BIRTHDATE: November 21, 1982
HOMETOWN: Holtsville, NY
HIGH SCHOOL: West Hempstead
MAJOR: Elementary Education
PARENTS: Amy Trusley and Dennis Jack
FAVORITES:
Team: New York Jets
Book: ?To Kill a Mockingbird?
Athlete/Celebrity: Julia Roberts
Musical Act: Billy Joel
Movie: ?Pretty Woman?
Activities/Interests: Playing sports, going to the beach, traveling
ROLE MODEL: My grandma
ATHLETIC HONORS: In high school, four All Tournament awards, All County volleyball, MVP volleyball, two-time scholar athlete, team captain.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: ?Going to Buffalo for the State Championships.?
GOALS AND/OR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?To become a better player and I hope we are all happy with the way we play.?
Carrie Jack will primarily play in a defensive role on the Lady Colonials because of her incredible blocking skills. She will likely play the weak side, according to Coach Jaak Raudsepp, because she is a good defensive passer as well as having a strong hit, and ?basically nothing gets through her hands.?
KARISA MICHEL #4
6-0 Freshman Outside Hitter
BIRTHDATE: December 22, 1982
HOMETOWN: Columbia City, IN
HIGH SCHOOL: Canterbury
MAJOR: Undecided
PARENTS: Kevin and Jere Michel
SIBLING: Kyle
FAVORITES:
Team: Colts
Book: ?Fahrenheit 451?
Athlete/Celebrity: Andre Agasi
Musical Act: Billy Joel
Movie: ?Usual Suspects?
Activities/Interests: Hanging out with friends
ROLE MODEL:
ATHLETIC HONORS: In high school, most valuable player junior and senior years, most improved player sophomore year, All Conference sophomore, junior and senior years, team captain junior and senior year.
GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?To reach my potential as an individual and team player.?
Karisa Michel, a six-foot freshman from Canterbury High School in Columbia City, Indiana, enters her first year at Southampton Graduate Campus with great promise. "You'll be hearing her name a lot," promises former Lady Colonial star Noelle Kuhn.
Coach Jaak Raudsepp calls Karisa "a really smart young player with an incredible swing." After winning the Most Improved Player Award and making All Conference in her sophomore year at high school, her talent blossomed. The next two seasons she became team captain and was honored with being named to the All Conference Team, All Tournament Team and also captured successive Most Valuable Player awards.
"She's a really a smart hitter, kills the ball every time and is able to read the block on the other side and get around it exceptionally well," said Raudsepp.
SAMANTHA PALAZZO #16
5-7 Freshman Middle Blocker
BIRTHDATE: February 19, 1982
HOMETOWN: West Babylon, NY
HIGH SCHOOL: West Babylon
MAJOR: Biology
PARENTS: Deloras and Nicholas Palazzo
SIBLINGS: Erika and Nicole
FAVORITES:
Book: James and the Giant Peach
Athlete/Celebrity: Samuel L. Jackson
Musical Act: Dave Matthews Band
Movie: Braveheart
Activities/Interests: Playing sports and hanging out with friends
ROLE MODEL:
ATHLETIC HONORS: In high school, MVP volleyball and tennis, All League volleyball and tennis.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: ?Making the playoffs in high school because the volleyball team hadn?t made them in six years.?
Samantha Palazzo is a first year player who attended West Babylon High School where in addition to being named MVP and All League in both volleyball and tennis, she also led her team to their first playoffs in six years. This season she will be joining the Colonials as a defensive middle blocker. Coach Jaak Raudsepp said of Samantha, "She is a very good passer."
ERICA SHAFER #2
5-8 Junior Middle Blocker
BIRTHDATE: November 20, 1981
HOMETOWN: Anchorage, AK
HIGH SCHOOL: McKinney
MAJOR: Psych-Bio
PARENTS: Linda and David Shafer
SIBLING: John
FAVORITES:
Team: New York Mets
Athlete/Celebrity: Fred Durst
Musical Act: Limp Bizkit
Movie: ?The English Patient?
Activities/Interests: Traveling, monkeys
ROLE MODEL: The Sultan of Brunei
ATHLETIC HONORS: In high school, 1998 All District Best Defensive Player, team captain, team best defensive player, 1997 team best defensive player, scholar athlete.
GOAL FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?Win!?
Erica Shafer returns to the Lady Colonials this season with a reputation for hustle.
"She's quick to move to the ball and will dive for anything," said Coach Jaak Raudsepp. Erica, while attending McKinney High School in Anchorage, Alaska, was honored for her defensive prowess on the court, earning both the All District Best Defensive Player and Team Best Defensive Player honors.
AMBER SABROSKY #6
5-9 Sophomore Middle Blocker
BIRTHDATE: August 8, 1982
HOMETOWN: Kendallville, IN
HIGH SCHOOL: East Noble
MAJOR: Marine Science
PARENTS: Kevin and Teri Sabrosky
FAVORITES:
Team: Pacers
Book: ?The Shining?
Athlete/Celebrity: Marion Jones
Musical Act: I like it all.
Movie: Any horror movie
Activities/Interests: Volleyball, spending time with friends, the beach.
ROLE MODELS: My parents
ATHLETIC HONORS: In high school, 1997-98 Most Improved, 1998-99 Mental Attitude, junior and senior years: First Team All Conference, All Area Team, 1999-00 MVP.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: ?I will never forget when we played Adelphi last season. I was given the opportunity to prove myself as a player. I had the game of my life. I even led the team in digs. We won in 5. It was the time of my life.?
EXPECTATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?I would really like to see the team come together as a whole this year. We had our ups and downs last year, so I look forward to seeing the team gel.?
Amber Sabrosky returns to the Lady Colonials as one of the team's key starters. An outside hitter from East Noble High School in Kendallville, Indiana, she is a "great all-around player" who is expected to make another solid contribution to Southampton Graduate Campus this season.
In high school, Amber was named Most Valuable Player and made First Team All Conference twice. Last year she was among the team leaders with 159 digs and 102 kills.
Coach Jaak Raudsepp is especially impressed with her "definite love for the game.?
?She plays with extreme confidence and her passing skills are amazing," he said.
LAURA SMITH #7
5-8 Freshman Outside Hitter
BIRTHDATE: July 11 1983
HOMETOWN: York, PA
HIGH SCHOOL: Spring Grove
MAJOR: Marine Biology
PARENTS: Ken and Kathy Smith
FAVORITES:
Team: Southampton Graduate Campus
Book: ?A Separate Peace?
Athlete/Celebrity: Christy Cockeren
Musical Act: Bare Naked Ladies
Movie: ?Shawshank Redemption?
Activities/Interests: Traveling, going to the beach, working out.
ROLE MODELS: My parents
ATHLETIC HONORS: All York County Team, Second All District III AAA state team.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: ?My favorite sports moment was in my senior year of high school when my team won a 20-team tournament, beating our biggest rival of the season in the finals and giving them their first loss.?
GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?To improve myself as a player all around, and for our team to be able to work together toward many future victories.?
Although she is only a freshman, Laura Smith has already established herself as one of the team leaders for the Lady Colonials. Coming to Southampton from Spring Grove High School in York, Penn., Laura was a member of the All York County Team and Second All District III Team.
An outside hitter, "she is a very smart and skilled young player," said Coach Jaak Raudsepp, who has also been impressed by her passing and hitting skills. "She consistently puts the ball down and switches from line to angle. She can read the block and read where the opponent is going."
MARISSA WEIN #1
5-9 Junior Middle Blocker
BIRTHDATE: October 31, 1981
HOMETOWN: Medford, NY
PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Suffolk CC
MAJORS: English and Writing
PARENTS: Steve and Joanne Wein
SIBLINGS: Cassandra and Joshua
FAVORITES:
Team: Southampton Colonials
Athlete/Celebrity: Gabrielle Reece
Activities/Interests: Playing sports, hanging out with friends, going on vacations.
ROLE MODEL: My mom
ATHLETIC HONORS: In junior college, named All League, all tournament team, team captain, second team (All American). Received US Army academic and athletic excellence award.
ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT: ?At Suffolk, we came in second place in our regional conference, but we played some very hard teams to get there, and I played my best game ever.?
GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: ?To improve on my skills as a player both physically and mentally.?
Marissa Wein comes to Southampton Graduate Campus as a transfer student from Suffolk County Community College, where she excelled. She was an All League player and winner of the United States Army Academic and Athletic Excellence Award. While at Suffolk, Marissa helped her team place second in the their conference.
According to Coach Jaak Raudsepp, Marissa has a 'terrific, fast arm swing," so he plans to use her mainly on offense as a middle hitter.
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