The New York Liberties were one of six teams in the

Major League Volleyball Major League Volleyball (MLV) was a women's professional volleyball league in the United States. It was established in 1987 and disbanded during its third season on March 20, 1989. The league was launched in 1987 with six teams consisting of ni ...

franchise. The league began in 1987 and ended short of completing a full season in 1989. Players consisted of former collegiate All Americans and Olympians. The team played at

Hofstra University Hofstra University is a private university in Hempstead, New York. It is Long Island's largest private university. Hofstra originated in 1935 as an extension of New York University (NYU) under the name Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of Ne ...

and the

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Results

The Liberties placed 3rd in 1987 and 4th in 1988.

Coaching

The Liberties were led by legend and Hall of Fame player/coach

Mary Jo Peppler Mary Joan "Mary Jo" Peppler (born October 17, 1944) is a retired American volleyball player and coach. Peppler was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 1990. She also played professional basketball with the New Jersey Gems of the Women' ...

who was the setter in 1987 and for most of 1988 except in a few matches in which former Olympian and later beach player/partner

Karolyn Kirby Karolyn Kirby (born June 30, 1961, in Brookline, Massachusetts) is a retired female beach volleyball player from the United States. She won the bronze medal at the 1997 World Championships in Los Angeles, California, partnering Nancy Reno. Th ...

filled in.

Former players

Players for this team were: Jo Ellen Vrazel (RS)(88-89); April Chappel (OH) (1987); Sandy Aughinbaugh (OH) (87-88);

(OH) (replaced Chappel in 1987-88); Wendy Stevenson S/Def. Specialist)(87-88); Laura Smith (MB); Ellen Crandal Orner (MB)(1988); Ellen Bugalski (MB)(1987); Nina Mathies (1988); Lira Vance (1988);

About former players

*Ellen Crandal Orner, a native of

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

, attended

Penn State #Redirect Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campu ...

and has an ice cream flavor after her called the "Crandal Crunch." Orner was traded to the NY Liberties in 1988 from the Dallas Belles (that franchise ended in 1987). Ellen started MLV with the Chicago Breeze in 1987. *Laura Smith's father died during her second year with the team and dedicated one of her matches in his memory. Smith was also known for her competitive and feisty spirit was a great asset to the Liberty block. *April Chapple was a powerful OH for NY but left the team prematurely in 1987 due to a torn cartilage in her knee. At the time of her departure she was ranked third for kills in the league. She was replaced by Carolyn Kirby. *Sandy Auginbaugh started season two while attending law school and missed some practice with the team. Auginbaugh was Major League Volleyball's best server in 1987, a designation that had she won it in 1988 would have netted her $5,000.00 extra as the league began with pay incentives for performance.

References

{{Reflist

External links

1988 New York times article about the Liberties
Volleyball clubs in the United States Volleyball competitions in the United States Volleyball in New York (state)