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New Home Floor, Weekend in Columbus Highlight 2008 Volleyball Slate
Wednesday, July 30 2008

Youngstown -- A story-filled first weekend and the introduction of a new Dom Rosselli Court highlight the 2008 schedule for the Youngstown State volleyball team, Penguins coach Joe Bonner announced.

The Penguins open the season a month from today (Aug. 29) at the Ohio State Sports Imports Classic in Columbus against former YSU and current Xavier assistant Christy Utnage in her first match on another bench. YSU will also play Ohio State on Aug. 30 just six hours after kickoff between the Penguins and Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.

A busy September opens on Sept. 5 at the Comfort Suites 49er Tournament in Charlotte, N.C. where the Penguins will play Norfolk State, Howard and Charlotte for the first time in school history. YSU will then play a three-match tournament at Robert Morris on Sept. 12-13 and a final tune-up against West Virginia on Sept. 14.

Coming off its best Horizon League finish in school history, the Penguins will open up conference play on Sept. 19-20 at Beeghly Center against UIC and Loyola in what will be the first athletic events held on the new Dom Rosselli Court.

YSU will then embark on a four-game road swing against the league over the next two weeks before playing host to Milwaukee and Green Bay on Oct. 11-12. A match at non-conference opponent Pittsburgh on Oct. 14 starts a three-game road stretch before the Penguins play four of their final six league games at home. Senior night will be Nov. 14 against Cleveland State, and the Horizon League Championship will start Nov. 20 in Cleveland.

The Penguins will sign team posters after five of their home matches - Sept. 19, Oct. 11, Oct. 24, Oct. 31 and Nov. 14 - and have two major dedications. The military will be honored on Sept. 20 in a Salute to Arms match with members of YSU's ROTC and area troops. That match precedes the YSU football game against North Dakota State in which a patriotic-themed senior poster will be presented to fans. October will be "Think Pink" breast cancer awareness month.

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Bonner Names Villanova's Darcy Thompson Assistant Coach
Tuesday, June 10 2008

Youngstown -- Darcy Thompson, who spent the 2007 as an assistant coach at Villanova University has joined the Youngstown State volleyball staff as an assistant coach, Head Coach Joe Bonner announced Tuesday (June 10).

"Darcy is a bright, young and talented coach and I feel fortunate to add her to our staff," Bonner said. "She has been a part of three successful programs as a student-athlete and a coach and I feel she is a perfect fit for our program."

Last season, Thompson helped guide the Wildcats to a 17-12 overall record and a 9-5 mark in the Big East. She also coached Villanova's first AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Alona Cherkez.

Prior to joining the Villanova staff, Thompson spent the 2006 season as a volunteer assistant at the University of Dayton. During her season at UD, the Flyers posted a 22-11 record for the season and advanced to the championship match of the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

In addition, Faye Barhorst earned honorable mention All-America honors from the AVCA and Amanda Robbe was cited for her academic success on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Prior to joining the Dayton staff, Thompson was a standout player at Robert Morris University, and she spent the 2005 season as an assistant coach at the University. The Colonials went 16-13 in 2005 and reached the Northeast Conference championship match.

During her playing career at Robert Morris, Thompson was the team's starting libero and in the summer after her graduation was chosen to play on the Bringit Promotion USA Select volleyball team.

Thompson was a two-time All-Northeast Conference first team selection and she owns the top two Robert Morris single-season dig records with 718 (2004) and 576 (2003), respectively.

She was ranked nationally in digs per game during her junior and senior seasons and rates second in school history with 1,583 digs.

Thompson graduated from Robert Morris in 2005 with a BSBA in Marketing and a MS in Communications Information Systems.

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Bedra, Vanyi Tie Single-Season Home Run Record in Loss to Valparaiso
Monday, April 28 2008

Valparaiso, Ind. -- Senior McKenzie Bedra and freshman Rochelle Vanyi tied the Youngstown State single-season home run record but the Penguins softball team (11-31, 5-14 Horizon League) dropped a 13-5 decision to Valparaiso (29-15, 11-4) on Sunday afternoon at the VU Softball Field.

Bedra and Vanyi each tallied their 10th home run of the season and tied the mark set by Liz Holt (2003) and by junior Kristen McDonnell (2006).

The Penguins also set the team season record with 36 home runs and tied the single-game home run mark with four against the Crusaders. Besides Bedra and Vanyi, McDonnell and freshman Katy Potokar each homered against Valpo.

Bedra and McDonnell hit back-to-back two-out home runs in the top of the first inning to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead. Rochelle Vanyi led off the game with a single to left-center field and scored on Bedra's two-run blast.

The Crusaders knotted the game at 3-3 with a three-run frame in the bottom half of the first.

Potokar gave the Penguins a 4-3 edge with her fourth home run of the season - a solo shot - in the top of the third inning.

The Crusaders put up a four spot in the bottom of the inning to take a 7-4 lead.

Vanyi led off the top of the fifth inning with her 10th home run of the year to bring the Guins within three, 8-5.

The Crusaders added two in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the sixth to enforce the mercy rule.

YSU visits Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 29, at 2 p.m.

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Jessica Fraley Named Volleyball Team Most Valuable Player
Tuesday, December 11 2007

Youngstown -- Senior Jessica Fraley was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Youngstown State volleyball team, Head Coach Joe Bonner announced at the team's awards banquet on Sunday evening.

Fraley, who became the ninth player in school history to end her career with at least 1,000 kills with 1,001, led the Penguins with 427 kills. Her 2007 kills total also ranked fourth on the YSU single-season list.

A 2007 Horizon League All-League selection, Fraley also picked up Academic All-Horizon League honors and College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Third Team laurels.

Fraley owns a 3.87 grade-point average with a major in telecommunications.

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Fraley Posts 1,000th Career Kill in 3-0 Quarterfinal Loss to Cleveland State
Friday, November 16 2007

Milwaukee, Wis. -- Youngstown State senior Jessica Fraley became the ninth player in school to record 1,000 career kills after posting 16 kills in a 17-30, 31-33, 24-30 loss to Cleveland State in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Horizon League Volleyball Championship at the Klotsche Center.

The Penguins finish the campaign with a 12-18 mark while Cleveland State improves to 21-8 and advances to the semifinals.

Fraley, who entered the match with 985 career kills, needed 15 kills to reach the 1,000-kill club and now ranks ninth all-time with 1,001 career kills. She also finished with eight digs.

Junior Ebony Barbosa was the only other Penguin to reach double figures with 10 kills. Junior setter Karla Everhart dished out 31 assists.

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Volleyball Falls in Four to Cleveland State in Regular Season Finale
Monday, November 12 2007

Cleveland, Ohio -- The Youngstown State volleyball team fell to 12-17 overall and 5-11 in the Horizon League after dropping a 21-30, 30-26, 29-31, 24-30 decision to Cleveland State (20-8, 13-3 Horizon League) on Saturday afternoon.

Senior Jessica Fraley recorded her 17th double-double of the season with a team-best 16 kills and 12 digs. Fraley, who needs just 15 kills to reach 1,000 for her career, also posted four blocks.

Sophomore Ruth Boscaljon was the only other Penguin to reach double figures 11 kills.

Junior setter Karla Everhart notched a double-double with 42 assists and 10 digs while junior Ebony Barbosa and freshman Laurie Shives each recorded 18 digs.

The Penguins will participate in the Horizon League Championship, Nov. 15-18, in Milwaukee, Wis. Seedings and times are yet to be announced.

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Fraley Named CoSIDA Academic All-District Third-Team
Friday, November 9 2007

Youngstown -- Senior right side hitter Jessica Fraley was named to the College Sports Information Director's (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Third-Team, the organization announced on Thursday.

Fraley, who owns a 3.87 grade-point average in telecommunications, is just the third YSU volleyball player to earn academic all-district honors. Abby Ettenhofer (2005) and Kristen Meech (2000 and 2001) are the only two other players to accomplish this feat.

Fraley leads the team and ranks third in the Horizon League with 395 kills and sixth with 3.43 kills per game.

For her career, Fraley ranks ninth with 969 kills and needs just 31 more to become the ninth player in school history to post 1,000 kills in a career.

YSU closes out the regular season against Cleveland State, Saturday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Fraley Nets 16th Double-Double in Loss to No. 17 Dayton
Sunday, November 4 2007

Youngstown -- Senior Jessica Fraley posted her 16th double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs with three blocks in a 18-30, 20-30, 28-30 loss to No. 17 Dayton on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.

Youngstown State falls to 12-16 overall while Dayton improves to 25-1.

Junior Ebony Barbosa, who posted 10 kills, became just the eighth player in school history to record 300 kills and 300 digs in a season.

Freshman Laurie Shives moved into fourth place on the YSU single-season digs list with 413 after collecting 10 against Dayton.

YSU closes out the regular season against Cleveland State, Saturday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Four Reach Double Figures in Five-Game, Senior Night Win Over Valparaiso
Sunday, November 4 2007

Youngstown -- Sophomore Ruth Boscaljon slammed 14 kills and recorded seven blocks and senior Jessica Fraley posted a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs to lead the Youngstown State volleyball team (12-15, 5-10 Horizon League) to a 30-26, 23-30, 33-31, 18-30, 16-14 win over Valparaiso (17-8, 7-6 Horizon League) on Senior Night at the Beeghly Center.

Sophomore Allison Heinz tallied 11 kills with a .429 hitting percentage and a team-high eight blocks, including six block assists. As a team the Penguins posted 18 blocks, seven solo blocks and 22 block assists.

With 24 digs freshman Laurie Shives, who has 403 assists, became the first player since 1999 and just the sixth player in school history to record at least 400 digs in a season.

Junior setter Karla Everhart just missed a double-double with nine kills and 44 assists and was also credited with four aces and four blocks.

Junior Ebony Barbosa also reached double figures with 11 kills and posted five blocks.

The Penguins close out the home portion of their schedule against nationally-ranked Dayton, Saturday, at 2 p.m.

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Boscaljon's 16 Kills, Barbosa's Double-Double Not Enough in Loss to Loyola
Monday, October 29 2007

Chicago, Ill. -- Sophomore Ruth Boscaljon posted a team-high 16 kills and junior Ebony Barbosa tallied a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs but the Youngstown State volleyball team (11-15. 4-10 Horizon League) fell to Loyola, 25-30, 26-30, 30-26, 22-30, on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym.

Senior Jessica Fraley posted 10 kills while freshman Laurie Shives recorded 20 digs.

YSU returns home to host Valparaiso, Friday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.