The Massachusetts Maritime volleyball team posted its highest single-season win total in seven years last fall, and the Buccaneers are looking to keep that momentum going under the guidance of 11^th-year Head Coach Chris Ratches, who welcomes back eight letterwinners and four starters for the 2014 campaign.

Leadership has always played a key role in the Buccaneer program, and Ratches will look to seniors Deb Langley (Abington, Mass./South Shore Voke) and Lauren O’Shaughnessy (Yarmouth Port, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) to set that example as Massachusetts Maritime’s co-captains this season.  Ratches, a 1994 Academy graduate who was inducted into the Buccaneer Athletic Hall of Fame this past summer, describes the duo as tremendous leaders and ambassadors for our program both on and off the court, and their work ethic is one that I know their teammates will emulate.  They know what is expected of them both as a student and an athlete, and they will continue to set that positive example.”

Here’s a look at how things are shaping up for the 2014 Buccaneer volleyball season:

HITTERS/BLOCKERS.  Junior Emily Calnan (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) anchors the middle for Massachusetts Maritime, as she led the team kills (81) and total blocks (17) a year ago.  Sophomore Meaghan Brain (Hanson, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) added 55 kills and 15 total blocks (14 solo) in the middle as well for the Buccaneers, who also welcome back senior Meghan Weir (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) and sophomore Melissa Harris (Scituate, Mass./Scituate) on the outside.  Weir notched 72 digs, 36 kills and 12 service aces in 2013, while Harris chipped in with nine kills and seven digs.  Junior Charleen Klangos (Lowell, Mass./Notre Dame Tyngsboro), sophomore Emma Ethier (Norton, Mass./Norton) and freshman Becca Mello (Acushnet, Mass./Old Colony) will also look to contribute on the outside for Ratches as newcomers to the program this fall.

SETTER.  Langley returns to her starting setting position for the fourth straight season for Massachusetts Maritime, as she collected a team-best 138 set assists and 32 service aces while ranking second in both digs (133) and kills (60).

LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS.  Sophomore Stephanie O’Connor (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) returns as the Buccaneer libero, as she recorded a team-leading 199 digs as a rookie while adding 16 service aces and 16 set assists.  O’Shaughnessy and sophomore Cassidy Nice (Carver, Mass./Carver) combined for 26 digs last season, while freshman Mikayla Correia (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) also looks to be in the defensive specialist mix as a newcomer.

SCHEDULE.  Massachusetts Maritime will take on a 24-match schedule this fall, with six of the first seven contests to be played in the friendly confines of the Clean Harbors Athletic Center.  The Buccaneers will host Anna Maria, Southern Maine, Curry, Pine Manor, Becker and Wentworth in non-league play while also entertaining Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference foes Worcester State, Bridgewater State and MCLA.  Ratches’ crew will hit the road for non-league contests against Suffolk, Becker, Curry, Pine Manor, Gordon and Castleton as well as league clashes with Framingham State, Westfield State nad Salem State.  Massachusetts Maritime will also head to Throggs Neck, N.Y. during the weekend of September 20-21 to participate in the Fifth Annual Maritime Classic against rivals Merchant Marine, Maine Maritime and host SUNY-Maritime after posting a runner-up finish in the event last year.

The Buccaneers begin the 2014 campaign on Thursday, September 4^th by hosting Anna Maria in a non-league encounter inside the Clean Harbors Athletic Center beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT.