About The Team 

The women's volleyball program, now in its eighth season and second with head coach Sheila Gisbrecht at the helm, continues to develop and improve with recruiting and a focus on skill development.

During the 2009 season, the Blazers won five of their final six regular season matches to earn the fourth seed in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship tournament, and defeated Mitchell College in the quarterfinal round to advance to the tournament semifinals.

The Blazers placed three players on the 2009 All-NECC squad, including a first team selection.
Sophomore outside hitter Stacy Croteau (Agawam, Mass.) smashed a team-high 204 kills and added a team-best 268 digs for the season en route to earning First Team All-NECC honors. Croteau is currently third on the program’s all-time kills list with 359 in just two seasons.

Senior middle hitter Melissa Clark (Chicopee, Mass.) was named Second Team All-NECC and was Elms’ dominant force at the net this season. Clark totaled 69 blocks this season (35 solo, 34 assisted), helping to pace the Blazers to a 4-3 record in conference play. Clark has now downed 429 kills during her career at Elms and is ranked second on the program’s all-time list. Clark also holds the program’s all-time blocks record with 153 total stuffs in three seasons of action.

Senior setter/outside hitter Kim Phillips (Randolph, Mass.) dished out 348 assists in 2009 and was named All-NECC Honorable Mention. Phillips concluded her career with a program-record 1,886 assists.

In 2006, outside hitter Chie Inoue (Kochi, Japan) became the first Blazer in program history to be named Conference Rookie of the Year following a stellar season that saw her finish among the conference's top 10 leaders in hitting percentage, service aces, and digs.

In addition to competing in the NECC, the Blazers are also members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).