Volleyball not taking near-perfect start for granted
Casey Cheney
Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: Sports
Last weekend, the Hillsdale Charger volleyball team played four regional matches at Findlay, losing only their first game against University of Missouri St. Louis, a team they beat in five games last season. So far this season, they have won seven games and lost only one, going 4-0 at a tournament in Colorado at the end of August.
Junior and co-captain Sydney Dow said the team got off to a slow start in their first match, which is why they lost. After that point, however, Dow said the team came together to play at the caliber that led them to be undefeated in Colorado.
"The second day we picked it up and played really well," she said. "I definitely feel good about it. Everybody was doing their part, which made it easier."
Dow said the players have reached a higher level of teamwork and chemistry than the previous season.
"Even from last year our synergy is even better," she said. "It seems easy playing with everybody."
Head coach Chris Gravel said several of his players consistently stood out during the tournament, including Dow, who made the all-tournament team, sophomore Apryl Schmucker and freshman Lauren Grover. Gravel also said junior Amanda Bigney executed at key points in the tournament.
"Amanda Bigney came up with some key kills," he said. "She just seemed to make those big kills when we needed it."
At the Colorado Springs tournament, the team faced and defeated four opponents. Gravel said two of the teams, Wayne State of Nebraska and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, were nationally recognized in NCAA Division II.
In the tournament, sophomores Clara Leutheuser and Ashlee Crowder made the all-tournament team, and Crowder was named GLIAC player of the week.
While the victories were certainly a positive sign for the upcoming season, Gravel said their wins only spoke for that weekend and that they need to continue to work for their victories during the season.
He said the fact they won attests to the players' hard work throughout the summer.
Junior and co-captain Sydney Dow said the team got off to a slow start in their first match, which is why they lost. After that point, however, Dow said the team came together to play at the caliber that led them to be undefeated in Colorado.
"The second day we picked it up and played really well," she said. "I definitely feel good about it. Everybody was doing their part, which made it easier."
Dow said the players have reached a higher level of teamwork and chemistry than the previous season.
"Even from last year our synergy is even better," she said. "It seems easy playing with everybody."
Head coach Chris Gravel said several of his players consistently stood out during the tournament, including Dow, who made the all-tournament team, sophomore Apryl Schmucker and freshman Lauren Grover. Gravel also said junior Amanda Bigney executed at key points in the tournament.
"Amanda Bigney came up with some key kills," he said. "She just seemed to make those big kills when we needed it."
At the Colorado Springs tournament, the team faced and defeated four opponents. Gravel said two of the teams, Wayne State of Nebraska and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, were nationally recognized in NCAA Division II.
In the tournament, sophomores Clara Leutheuser and Ashlee Crowder made the all-tournament team, and Crowder was named GLIAC player of the week.
While the victories were certainly a positive sign for the upcoming season, Gravel said their wins only spoke for that weekend and that they need to continue to work for their victories during the season.
He said the fact they won attests to the players' hard work throughout the summer.
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