GNAC Student-Athlete Spotlight - Kaitlyn Atkinson & Cassie Chruscielski

When a team only loses one conference game, posts a 20 win season, and positions itself for a run in the tournament, it would be logical to assume they are bolstered by experience and senior leadership.

Not true for the Emmanuel women's volleyball team this fall as the 17-woman roster features nine freshman and no seniors.

While the Saints have traditionally been contenders in the GNAC, that lack of seniors and the influx of freshman players left the immediate future uncertain for the team.

A slow 1-6 start made it look like they might have to wait a few years to see the dividends of its young talent but two budding stars emerged in first-year starters Kaitlyn Atkinson and Cassie Chruscielski. With their contributions, the Saints bounced back, ripping off victories in 19 of their next 24 matches. 

"At the Oneonta State Invitational we played really high competition teams," Chruscielski said. "So it was a shock to all the young players but apparently we did better than we did in the past in that tournament. It was getting used to the high level, getting used to the college level and with that we started to learn more."

Atkinson also believes that it took the team a little while to get used to playing with one another with so many new players on the court.

"I always say how we should be an amoeba on the court, we should all work together and be one," Atkinson said. "I feel like some games we weren't an amoeba but in some games when that clicks I feel like that we're all there for each other."

The group of freshmen is unusually mature which also contributed to the quick turnaround according to Chruscielski.

"We're all ready to play. We're all bigger personalities so we work really well with each other and that has been really key with how we've played," Chruscielski said.

As the team came together Chruscielski was able to break out of her shell and become the type of player she had been high school. She became more comfortable with her teammates and took on a vocal leadership role. She admits she was scared at first to step on any of the older player's toes.

"That was one of the turning points for me, being super loud, I love yelling and screaming," Chruscielski said. "Through the games you had to just let the fear of them go and the fear of screwing up. Being a freshman and playing right away you are terrified that it's gonna be all your fault. You don't want them to be like, 'oh the freshman' but these girls aren't like that and that really helped."

Improved team chemistry was helpful but the skillsets of Atkinson and Chruscielski really fueled the recovery. Atkinson sits second on the team in kills and is the leader in solo blocks. She uses her 6'3 height to make blocks look effortless according to Chruscielski. But even Atkinson admits it's not always an exact science.

"To be honest sometimes I'll surprise myself and my hands will just be there somehow," Atkinson said. "Also when I get mad I want to block and I find myself jumping higher and penetrating more over the net. When I get blocks it's an amazing feeling and I just want to do it over and over again."

Chruscielski, who thought a preseason foot injury would keep her off the court this year, has been no slouch either, leading the Saints in kills and ranking in the top five in the conference.

Their standout performance has been recognized as the pair has notched a combined five conference Rookie of the Week nods. Atkinson, who won the award a third time for her play this past week, has relished the honor.

"I was never very confident in myself," Atkinson said. "I didn't know that I'd be able to achieve this. Getting it again, I cried a little. I was amazed."

For Chruscielski, the awards brought an added pressure to perform. They were no longer two freshmen who could sneak up on the opposition. Now the other team would be coming for them.

"I started to realize I'm gonna have double blocks on me, they're gonna notice us," Chruscielski said. "It kinda fueled the fire a little bit to wanna prove it."

Even though the combo has made the headlines this season for Emmanuel, they know it's not a two-woman team.

"I wouldn't be able to have so many kills if it wasn't for the great defense and the girls working their butts off to get the ball," Chruscielski said. "We wouldn't have been able to receive the Rookie of the Week honors if it wasn't for them. We appreciate them so much."

Despite their early success, Atkinson and Chruscielski know that they have room to grow as individuals, and as a team. Chruscielski sees the team getting smarter as time goes on which will help them eliminate the type of mistakes that can cost them against top teams.

In the short term the duo have their sights set on maintaining the second seed for the GNAC tournament that starts Tuesday and finding their way to the conference championship. But for freshmen there is much more than just this year to look forward to. Atkinson has her eyes on winning multiple GNAC championships while Chruscielski is set on qualifying for the NCAA tournament and making a run at 1,000 kills for her career.

"Over the next few years we're gonna get smarter, we're gonna get more talented, and who knows what we can do," Chruscielski said.

*Written by GNAC Communications Specialist, Eddie Lockhart