BOSTON, Mass. - The Simmons College volleyball team returns all but two letterwinners and one starter from last year's squad that advanced to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference  Championship Tournament Semifinals. The Sharks are a year wiser and expect to be that much better in their run for a conference crown under the watch of first year Head Coach Scott Grandpre.

Simmons will look to be more aggressive on offense this season, both at the net and from the service line. The team returns five of its top six hitters from 2014 and its entire defensive contingent remains intact, in addition to its starting setter.

The Sharks finished last season by winning 12 of its final 17 matches and posted a 9-2 mark in conference play to bolster their confidence heading into this season.

Junior outside hitter Cailin Fredrickson (Columbia, Md.) is a powerful hitter and averaged 1.63 kills per set with a .136 hitting percentage in her first year at Simmons, following a transfer from University of Massachusetts Boston. Fredrickson has also improved her serve to add to her offensive prowess. The five-foot, eleven-inch hitter proved to be effective at the net on the defensive side as well with 25 total blocks. Sophomore Sarah Woodward (Deerfield, Mass.) established herself as one of the Sharks' best all-around players, averaging 1.65 kills per set to rank second on the team, while serving up 25 aces for the second-highest total on the squad. The outside hitter excelled on the defensive side as well with 1.88 digs per set for the third-most on the team.

Nicole Alberghini (Northborough, Mass.) started on the right side for Simmons last year, but will also see time in the middle this season. The senior is one of the best blockers on the team and racked up 41 total blocks last year to go with 1.55 kills per set, while owning a .140 hitting mark. Junior Abby Hart (Westfield, Mass.) is very steady and the team's best blocker, averaging 0.63 blocks per set to rank ninth among GNAC leaders in 2014. The middle hitter has become an emotional leader for the Sharks and has also improved her serve to become an offensive weapon. Sophomore Amber Peterson (Las Vegas, Nev.) missed time due to injury at the beginning of the season, but finished the campaign strong with 10 kills in the GNAC Semifinals. The right side hitter averaged 1.28 kills per set in 19 matches and swings with a lot of power, regardless of where she is on the court. First year Emily Zawisa (Amsterdam, N.Y.) was a First Team All-Conference selection for Galway Senior/Junior High School and has great body control as well as a knack for finding the open spot on the floor on the attack. She will vie for time off the bench for Simmons. 

Junior Andalyn Duke (Litchfield Park, Ariz.) was the squad's primary setter last year, averaging 8.11 assists per set, while picking up 2.20 digs per frame. She's a consistent player with good all-around skills and was named to the GNAC Third Team last year. First year Jessica Phinney (Malden, Mass.) was a four-time Commonwealth Athletic Conference All-Star for Mystic Valley Regional Charter School and is a confident player with great poise on the court. She will look for time off the bench to support Duke.

Defensively, the Sharks have great experience and are very athletic in the back row. Junior Alex Itasaka (Bradford, Mass.) served as the team's libero the past two seasons and averaged 4.04 digs per set last year, while serving for 25 aces. A Third Team All-League selection as a rookie in 2013, she could see time at both libero and defensive specialist and has an uncanny ability to get to balls that a lot of players would give up on. Kat Guillotte (New Bedford, Mass.) could also see time at both libero and defensive specialist after seeing action primarily as a defensive specialist last year. The junior is extremely athletic and a quick study on the court. She scooped up 1.88 digs per set last year, while leading the team with a .919 reception percentage.

Senior Chanel Thomas (Phoenix, Ariz.) will also look for time as a defensive specialist and could fill in at setter as well. The four-year player brings a lot of energy to the court and led the team with 26 aces last season, while ranking second with 2.41 digs per frame. Sophomore defensive specialist Susan Wilson (Winchester, Mass.) saw limited time in her rookie season a year ago, but made an impact with 0.29 aces per set to rank among the highest rates on the squad. She receives the ball well in the back row and will be counted upon for her big serve once again. First year Paola Rios (Miami, Fla.) will look for time on the back row as well. She is a smooth, fluid player with good ball control and is an excellent passer.