Brooklyn Boro

St. Francis College volleyball still a work in progress

Inks Six Recruits for 2017, Hoping to Build Powerhouse Akin to LIU

May 30, 2017 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The SFC Brooklyn women’s volleyball team hopes a crop of fresh recruits helps them compete for an NEC title in the coming years. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn
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Though they are still miles from competing with their Downtown neighbors from a few blocks away, the St. Francis Brooklyn women’s volleyball program continues to make progress, as evidenced by its steady improvement over the past several seasons.

The Terriers, who have watched LIU Brooklyn capture 10 Northeast Conference championships and NCAA Tournament bids, are hoping to close the gap a bit with their latest recruiting class, bringing in six talented players to Remsen Street for the 2017 campaign.

Brazil’s Gabriella Nobrega, a 5-foot-10 setter with two years of eligibility remaining following her transfer from Monroe College, leads this year’s recruiting class after helping the Mustangs to a 2015 regional championship and a district title last season.

“Gabi brings a lot of experience to the setting position at SFC,” said SFC Brooklyn head coach Abra Rummel, who has helped the Terriers increase their victory total over the past three seasons. 

“Her Brazilian roots show in her style of play — she is a smart, take-charge player with great ball control. We anticipate she will contribute immediately to the setting position. “

The Terriers went 9-21 last season, including 4-10 in NEC play, which was a vast improvement after posting just two victories overall two years ago. They even stole a couple of sets from the reigning champion Blackbirds during their two Battle of Brooklyn losses to LIU, and are hopeful that they can take the next step with a new cache of talent in 2017.

Also joining Nobrega in this year’s recruiting class are Nina Tiedt of Germany, a 5-foot-11 setter who helped her high school to the German Championship in 2013. She is also transferring from St. Petersburg College, giving here a couple of years with the Terriers after averaging 9.65 assists and 1.44 digs per contests a season ago.

“Nina has extensive experience as a setter, both in high school and at her former junior college,” Rummel said. “Her maturity and knowledge of the game, combined with her skills, will allow her to compete for a starting role immediately.”

Pennsylvania’s Danae Barkley, sisters Angie and Ally Speweik from Ohio and Serbian outside hitter Vanja Miljacic round out what could shape up as the Terriers’ best recruiting class of the decade.

“Vanja comes to SFC by way of Serbia, and will bring with her invaluable experience to the outside position,” Rummel said. “She is physical and versatile as a player, and can take big swings when we need her to.”

“Danae is a very physical player with a huge upside,” she added. “She had to sit out the majority of her senior club season due to an injury, but we feel strongly that she has tremendous potential and will be a huge asset for St. Francis Brooklyn.”

* * *

Over at LIU Brooklyn, seniors Adam Walker-Khan, junior Kareem Roberts and sophomore Roderick Moodie each completed brilliant campaigns in men’s track and field by competing in last weekend’s NCAA East Preliminary Round on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

The trio competed in three events on the final two days of prelims, with Moodie taking part in the 110 Meter Hurdles, Walker-Khan participating in the triple jump, and Roberts in the high jump.

Roberts earned LIU’s best performance of the weekend as he finished just two spots out of qualifying range in the high jump. His leap of 6-10.75 (2.10 meters) was less than two inches off his season high from March’s Texas Relays (7-0.50 / 2.15m), and placed him in a tie for 14th in the 48-man field that only advanced 12 athletes to Nationals.

Walker-Khan completed his illustrious LIU career with his third East Prelims appearance in four years. His top triple jump of 49-2.50 (15.00m) was his third-best attempt of the season and placed him 30th overall in the field.

Moodie opened LIU’s schedule of events at prelims by running in Friday’s 110 Meter Hurdles and recording a time of 15.63 to finish 47th overall.

* * *

LIU Brooklyn junior softball standout Gina Bond added another postseason award to her 2017 campaign after earning Second Team All-Conference honors from the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC), the league announced last Thursday.

In her first year in Brooklyn after a pair of seasons at Oregon State, the Canby, Oregon native was also named a First Team selection by both the NEC and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Bond played in all 52 games for the Blackbirds, finishing in the team’s top five in 13 categories, including batting average (.338), slugging percentage (.497), on-base percentage (.365), runs scored (29), hits (53), RBI (25), doubles (11) and total bases (78).

She also produced a pair of eight-game hit streaks during the year (March 4-12, April 12-23) — the second-longest streak of the season by a Blackbird

Against teams that ended the year in the top 75 in NCAA RPI rankings, Bond’s averages improved to .412 (batting average), .405 (on base percentage) and .559 (slugging).

After winning the 2017 NEC title, the Blackbirds dropped back a bit this season, going 20-32, with a 6-10 mark in NEC play.

Fortunately, they’ll have Bond back for her senior season and another shot at the NCAAs.

 

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