Harford Volleyball Adds Four Players for 2010 Season

From the HCC sports desk:

BEL AIR, Md.—Four athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to play volleyball for Harford beginning with the 2010 season, head coach Jason Colangelo announced today. Amanda Barger, Ashley Dorsey, Amanda Mackey and Emma Anderson signed with the Fighting Owls during a formal ceremony on Thursday night at Susquehanna Center and will become the first volleyball class to play at the NJCAA Divison-I level after Harford declared its reclassification earlier this month.

“These ladies were four very strong players in the county and bring a lot of skill and determination to Harford,” Colangelo said. “They have great attitudes, are very mature and are willing to do what it takes to play at the next level.”

Ashley Dorsey, a 5-5 setter/libero from Bel Air, Md., was named to the 2009 All-Harford County First Team after averaging 6.23 assists, 3.15 kills, 3.02 digs and 0.97 aces per game for C. Milton Wright. The 2008 All-Harford County Honorable Mention award-winner was a four-year player for the Mustangs and has also played club volleyball for eight years in addition to serving as an assistant coach for the local Upper Chesapeake Volleyball Club.

“Ashley has some very strong leadership skills and brings some high-level playing experience to our team thanks to eight years spent playing club volleyball,” Colangelo said. “Her serve is very consistent and difficult to pass and she will be an immediate impact on the Harford team.”

On the other side of the Susquehanna, Amanda Barger, a 5-6 setter/outside hitter from Colora, Md. was named First-Team All-Cecil County after averaging 1.21 aces and 2.33 digs per game for Perryville. The 2008 MVP of the Perryville volleyball team played on the varsity Panthers squad all four years and has been a member of the Mason Dixon Volleyball Club for five years. Barger is also a member of the Student Round Table, a school problem-solving peer group.

“Amanda [Barger] is a very strong leader as well and has some great knowledge of volleyball. She has an innate ability to read opposing attackers and has great hands for setting and an excellent jump serve.”

Two North Harford players, Amanda Mackey, a 5-11 middle blocker, and Emma Anderson, a 5-5 setter/defensive specialist, round out the 2010 recruiting class. Mackey, a two-sport athlete for the Hawks, spent four years on the volleyball team and is currently in her fourth season with the basketball team. The 2009 All-Harford County Honorable Mention award-winner averaged 2.86 kills, 0.80 blocks and 0.67 aces per game this past fall and is also an honor roll student.

“Amanda [Mackey] is a very consistent hitter with lots of power,” the coach said. “In addition, she has some solid blocking skills and her serving capability is extremely strong.”

Anderson was a two-sport athlete at North Harford as well, but only picked up volleyball recently, as she played at the club level for two years and joined the Hawks team this past fall. She made an immediate impact during her senior season, averaging 4.20 assists, 2.40 kills and 0.80 aces per game, while she also spent her first three high school years as a member of the soccer team and is a member of the Best Buddies volunteer program.

“Emma is going to be an integral back-row player thanks to her jump serve capabilities and her strong defensive passing,” Colangelo said. “Along with Amanda [Barger] and Ashley, she is one of three setters to join the team and her strong skills will ensure that she competes for a setting role on the team.”