JOHNSON, Vt. - Third-year coach Mark Kaufman will look to lead a program only two-seasons old in a continued climb up the North Atlantic Conference standings in 2011.  The Badgers finished 3-18 overall, 1-6 in the North Atlantic Conference in 2010 but a late-season win over rival Lyndon State College propelled the Badgers into their first post-season action.  JSC would fall to the University of Maine-Farmington in the quarterfinal round 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-9).

Five returners will look to lead the way for Johnson this season paced by junior setter Kylie VanEtten (Montrose, Penn./Elk Lake).  VanEtten led the Badgers in assists (135) and digs (148) last season.

Seniors Alex Benlock (West Haven, Conn./Lyman Hall), Beth Lilligreen (North Kingstown, R.I./North Kingstown), and Jessica Pafumi (Monson, Mass./Monson) are back to spark the Badgers offense as well.  Pafumi is the leading returner in kills with 53 while Benlock topped the team last season in service aces with 45.  Lilligreen is a presence at the net with 10 blocks in 2010 to lead JSC.

Also back is junior Molly Grover (Cumberland, Maine/Cheverus) who will see time at libero and accounted for 85 digs and 28 services aces last season.

Coach Kaufman will look to mesh in a trio of newcomers to a roster that saw their first action in 2011 on September 1 when the Badgers fell to Norwich 3-0 (25-8, 25-12, 25-12).  The schedule continues with a five-team tournament this weekend at Newbury College in Boston with the NAC schedule getting started on October 1.