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News Release
UMBC Volleyball Inks Three for 2010 Season
11/18/2009
BALTIMORE—UMBC volleyball head coach Ian Blanchard announced today that Ali Goc, Mallory McIntyre and Emily Witsaman have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Retrievers for the 2010 season.
“I’m really excited about having these three young women join our program,” Blanchard said. “They all play different positions that will add depth to our program and will have a chance to make an impact immediately upon arriving here.”
Goc, a 5-10 outside hitter and libero from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, led her club team, Durham Attack, to the 2009 Canadian 18U National Championship and the 2009 Ontario 18U Provincial Championship. She played on the team with current UMBC freshman Ali Loynachan. She has earned numerous accolades, including 2009 All-Star Ontario 18U and 2008 All-Canadian 17U honors.
“Ali has a really high energy level when she’s on the floor and has a really strong arm,” the coach said. “She brings the experience of winning national championships in Canada and she’ll fit in very well with the rest of the team.”
McIntyre, a 5-9 setter from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, played for the Blazers Volleyball Club 18-and-Under team in 2009 as a 17-year-old after she won the 2008 Western Canadian Elite Championships with the Shock 16U club team. McIntrye also led her team to a Manitoba Provincial 16U title.
“Mallory joins a growing number of players to come from Winnipeg to our program and we’re looking forward to her following in the footsteps of Sarah Ball and Kira Giles,” Blanchard said. “We look for her to follow them and make difference on the team right away.”
Witsaman, a 6-2 middle blocker/right-side hitter, played for Medina High School in Medina, Ohio. She earned honorable mention All-Ohio honors as a senior and was selected to play in the All-District All-Star game. With her club team, Cleveland Volleyball Company, Witsaman won the 17-National Division of the 2009 USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championship.
“Emily is going to be a big asset to our team because she can play all three front-row positions very well and can hit the ball from anywhere on the floor,” the coach said.