Coming off a state championship season from a year ago, Bethlehem Catholic’s volleyball team has high expectations to defend their crown.

After finishing last season undefeated at 18-0 with the state crown, the Hawks bring back a team with experience to compete.

Back in the fold are returners MacKenzy Ruggiero (Opposite, Senior), Kyla Rodriguez (Middle, Junior) and Jodi Hewitt (Outside, Junior).

Newcomers include Alice Frank (Junior) and Leah Bender (Freshman).

“We are definitely excited about this upcoming season,” said head coach Kelly Brown. “We have high hopes for the team this season and are working extremely hard during this preseason, so we are ready to win some challenging games throughout the season and also be prepared for whatever is thrown our way when it comes to this ongoing pandemic.”

With a talented roster back in the fold, Brown knows that the bull’s-eye will be on their backs every night. How they handle those challenges could be a key to their success this season.

“This year we have a lot of talent, but our goal is to continue to grow and improve as a whole team,” said Brown. “Our drive and willingness to get better on and off the court will help us win games throughout this entire season.”