BENNINGTON, Vt. - It's going to be a rebuilding year for the 2008-2009 Southern Vermont Women's Basketball team. But that only means Athletic Director and Head Women's Basketball Coach Ben Kozik will have to work a little bit harder.

On Friday, women's basketball players began to arrive for the school's three-day orientation, and by Sunday, all six of Kozik's freshman recruits had arrived on campus.

"It's great to have them here," exclaimed Kozik. "You never know what to expect until they arrive on campus and get the keys to their rooms. It's going to be an interesting year."

Interesting indeed. The biggest question for the Mountaineers will be how they fare without the return of lone senior power forward Markeisha Mullen, who will be absent for at least the first six contests. The rest of the roster consists of six freshmen and four sophomores, who look to improve on a 2-22 mark (2-9 under Kozik) last season.

"God put eyes in the front of our heads so we can look forward, not back," Kozik said, quoting the infamous Lou Holtz. "What happened last year is long over with. I'm ready for this year. With a young squad, it means that we will certainly have to work harder as a team and as a coaching staff. I already work 15-20 hours per day, so what's a couple more hours?"

Kozik, known for his unparalleled work-ethic taught to him by former Syracuse Head Coach Paul Pasqualoni, had to play catch-up in the recruiting game after taking over for the team on January 14, 2008.

"We got a late start, but I'm happy with the young women my coaching staff and I brought in. This year, we made sure we brought in student-athletes with character. No egos. No prima donnas. We're here to play as a team and that's what we're going to do."

The new faces added to the squad include Joa Claircius (Clermont, FL/East Ridge HS), Kristen Cummings (New Britain, CT/New Britain HS), Jasmine Martin (Brattleboro, VT/The Hershey School), Alyssa Davis (West Burke, VT/Lyndon Institute), Tasha Smith (Capital Heights, MD/Suitland HS), and Shaniece Delgado (Bronx, NY/Sports Professionals HS).

Kozik will begin practicing with his squad on October 19. The team opens play with three consecutive games at home, starting with Centenary College on November 15.

Centenary defeated the Mountaineers, 79-57, last season in New Jersey.

For more information on Women's Basketball, email bkozik@svc.edu.