2022 Volleyball Preview

The Penn State Mont Alto women's volleyball squad will look to reload this season after they lost four important seniors from a season ago. The team returns five starters from a year ago (Kylie Denlinger, Kylee Gooding, Leslie Huckle, Gracie Vaughn and Caroline Blickley). The 2021 season ended as one of the most successful in school history as the program won 22 games and made it all the way to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship contest. Mont Alto fell to Cincinnati-Clermont (25-18, 25-14, 25-12) in straight sets in the championship contest.

Returning Starters:

Kylie Denlinger- Junior/Setter/Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle High School

2021 Stats: 54 kills, 803 assists, 317 digs, 4 blocks

Accolades: PSUAC Co-Specialist of the Year, USCAA 1st Team All-American

Denlinger led the team with 803 assists a year ago. She also accumulated 317 digs on defense. Denlinger will look to be a leader for Penn State Mont Alto this season and improve upon her strong 2021 season.

Kylee Gooding- Senior/Outside Hitter/State College, Pa./Tyrone Area High School

2021 Stats: 270 kills, 17 assists, 313 digs, 6 blocks

Accolades: PSUAC Honorable Mention, USCAA 2nd Team All-American

Gooding led the team with 270 kills in 2021, tallying a .140 hitting percentage. In 28 contests, she also tallied 313 digs on defense.

Leslie Huckle- Junior/Outside Hitter/Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro Area High School

2021 Stats: 157 kills, 3 assists, 48 digs, 3 blocks

Huckle ranked third on the team with 157 kills last season. She appeared in every contest for Head Coach Randy Hood. She will be a critical outside hitter on this year's squad.

Gracie Vaughn- Sophomore/Middle Hitter/Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro Area High School

2021 Stats: 234 kills, 3 assists, 28 digs, 49 blocks

Accolades: PSUAC West 1st Team, USCAA 2nd Team All-American

Vaughn finished off a strong freshman campaign for Penn State Mont Alto and will look towards more success in the 2022 season. Vaughn ranked second on the team in kills with 234. She was also a disruptor on defense with a team-leading 49 blocks.

Caroline Blickley- Sophomore/Middle Hitter/Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing High School

2021 Stats: 141 kills, 1 assist, 19 digs, 33 blocks 

Blickley talled 141 kills in 28 contests last season, ranking fourth on the team.

Notable Newcomers

Brooke Denlinger- Freshman/Libero/Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle High School

Gabby Baughman- Junior/Defensive Specialist/Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim High School

Abby Wagner- Freshman/Outside Hitter/Enola, Pa./West Perry High School