Ann Marie Bahantka

Posted on February 5, 2023February 8, 2023

Ann Marie Bahantka is a graduate of Horseheads High School, and she lettered in volleyball, basketball, softball and track. She represented Central New York Region at three Empire State Games before attending college where she played for the University of New Haven under legendary head coach Debbie Chin!

Ann Marie Bahantka was a key contributor to three New Haven women’s volleyball teams that reached the NCAA postseason, including trips to the Elite Eight in both 1985 and 1988.

Highlighting her junior campaign, Bahantka led the 1987 Chargers in kills (253), hitting percentage (.257) and assists (680). The following year as a senior, she led the Blue and Gold in kills, assists, digs and blocks en route to a 44-6 record and Most Valuable Player honors at the NCAA Regionals. A four-year starter, she earned All-New England Collegiate Conference honors three times and a pair of AVCA All-Region nods.

The Chargers went 141-38 during Bahantka’s four-year career with four NECC Championships. She finished her career with 1,515 assists, 704 kills, 519 digs and 205 blocks.

After graduation, she took over as head coach of Quinnipiac University and led the team to a then-record 32 wins as well as the Northeast-10 regular season and tournament championships. In 1992, she was chosen as the Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year. During her five-year tenure at QU she accumulated over 115 wins.

She has been inducted into the Horsehead’s High School Hall of Fame as well as the University of New Haven Hall of Fame.

I never intended to coach (Debbie Chin made me do it) but I was grateful to have the opportunity to give back. Some of my favorite moments were in Costa Rica, Barbados, St Thomas, New Haven middle schools and throughout the Northeast running and participating in clinics to promote Volleyball. I loved practice, training and teaching possibly more than the matches.

Ann Marie’s biggest influence was International Volleyball Hall of Famer, Debbie Green. “She was the reason I wanted to be a setter! She wasn’t the biggest but she led our Olympic teams with poise, dignity and a fierce competitiveness. My greatest moment was meeting her at the national championships (thank you Fran Vandermeer). She was just as classy if not more in person.”

Ann Marie is the co-owner of The Photography Bar and Executive Director of Production Services for Overabove in Chester, CT. She resides in Manchester, New Hampshire with her partner Holly and their canine son Franklin.

Robin Salters

Posted on September 1, 2015December 29, 2017

Robin attended Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan, and then attended college there as well for two years. She then transferred to the University of New Haven where she had been recruited by Connecticut Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame member Debbie Chin.

In the two seasons Robin played (1989 and 1990), her team posted identical 33-11 records and the University of New Haven played in the NCAA championships each year.

In her senior year Robin was named the University of New Haven’s Female Athlete of the Year.

Robin went on to graduate school at Western Michigan University and returned to her alma mater as the had volleyball coach in 1994.

University of New Haven News: Salters Tapped for Women’s Volleyball Hall of Fame

Marsha McNeil

Posted on September 1, 2015November 22, 2016

Marcia began her volleyball experience while at Westhill High School where she not only competed in volleyball, but basketball and track and field as well. She captained all three teams in her senior year. She achieved all-city and all-county honors for volleyball while at Westhill. She graduated in 1978.

Marcia then moved on and continued her education and volleyball career playing for coach Debbie Chin at the University of New Haven from 1978 through 1982. She was a four-year starter and a co-captain during her senior year. She continually led the team in kills and blocks. While competing at UNH, her team earned a 118-61 record. During her freshman year, the team qualified for the quarterfinals of the EAIAW tournament. They continued to qualify for the tournament throughout Marcia’s following three seasons.

The University of New Haven inducted Marcia into their Hall of Fame for both volleyball and basketball.

After UNH, Marcia continued her education at the University of Bridgeport where she earned her MS in Education.

Marcia returned to her high school alma mater to coach volleyball, basketball and track and field. Her career record with her volleyball team at Westhill was an impressive 118-91. The team made numerous trips to the CIAC state tournament, many times advancing to the quarterfinals.

She has sat on various committees and has received numerous service awards. She is presently a police officer with the Stratford Police Department.

Sandra Lautz-Moyer

Posted on September 1, 1998December 29, 2017

Sandra started her successful volleyball career at Foran High School where she was coached by Joseph Baler. She was selected to the All-State team in 1982. Sandra continued to play after high school at the University of New Haven where she was coached by Debbie Chin.

Sandra was a four-year starter on the team, including being a setter for three years. She is second on UNH’s all-time assist list with 3,324. She also ranks eleventh all-time at UNH with 608 career digs.

Sandra was named AVCA first team All Northeast region in 1986 and she played on teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 each of her four years. She finished her career with a 144-31 record, four NECC titles, and was selected first-team All-NECC three times. Sandra is married to Dave Moyer and is the mother of two children, David and Carley.

Debbie Chin

Posted on September 1, 1998November 22, 2016

Debbie graduated from W.C. Mephem High School and received BS from SUNY at Cortland, as well as an MS from the University of North Carolina. She is presently the Director of Athletics at the University of New Haven.

There is no aspect of the game of volleyball with which Debbie has not been affiliated. She was a player for the Connecticut Clippers from 1968-1977 where she competed in nine national tournaments. She has officiated on the college level for many years from 1973-1985. This experience also included officiating many regional and national championships. She was a member of the National Volleyball Officials rating team from 1976-1985.

As the head coach at the University of New Haven from 1975-1993, Debbie’s teams competed in eight regional and five national championships. They placed as high as fifth in 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1993. She is a USVBA Coaches Instructor Level I and Level II as well as International Volleyball Federation Stage One Coach. In that capacity, she has given clinics around the world.

Her #1 Total Volleyball Camp held during the summer at Wesleyan University has trained many of the state’s elite high school players.

Debbie has held numerous positions and chaired many committees in intercollegiate athletics. Most recently, she sits on the New England Collegiate Conference Executive Committee and she has chaired the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport volleyball rules committee from 1993-1997.