After an intense and successful preseason, the women’s volleyball team is scheduled to start their season tomorrow at the Tony Banner Invitational at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
The women reported to campus on August 14 to begin their preseason training period. In contrast to past seasons, this year’s preseason lasted for two weeks instead of one.
Senior outside hitter Emily Wolfert said she was impressed by her team’s high level of play during the first two weeks.
“I think we’re all on a different level than we have been in previous years,” Wolfert said. “Everyone has good ball handling skills and everyone is at a higher level of play which makes practice really enjoyable and we’re able to push each other a lot more.”
Freshman setter Taylor Bennett said she was thankful for the additional week because it allowed more time for the new players to adjust.
“I think it allowed our team to grow more than we could have in just one week,” Bennett said. “For me personally coming in we set a different tempo, so there was definitely a breaking point where I felt like I wasn’t playing as well as I could and then finally it just clicked. I think that’s what it’s like with all the freshmen. We’ve all had our moments where it finally clicked.”
The Chargers have added four freshmen to their roster this year: Bennett, Christine Siddall, Paige VanderWall, and Kara Vyletel.
“They add some much-needed depth, and they’re doing really well,” head coach Chris Gravel said. “Several of them are going to be representing us on game day on a regular basis as long as they keep improving. They fit right in, they’ve been working hard, and they came into preseason in good shape.”
Bennett said the upperclassmen on the team have done a great job “taking the freshmen under their wing” both on and off the court. Of the nine returning players, the Chargers have four seniors and recently voted Marissa Owen and Haylee Booms as co-captains for the season.
“Our whole senior class has gotten pretty close and we have all become leaders in our own way on and off the court, so that creates a really good team base and team dynamic to help lead the underclassmen,” Wolfert said. “The underclassmen are stepping up as leaders too, so when we’re all on the same page that makes things a lot easier.”
Wolfert and Gravel agreed that the team’s biggest strength will be their versatility in offensive lineups.
“We have more people this year who can represent on a game day. If something’s not working we can change everything and still be a strong team. Most other teams are not going to be in that situation,” Gravel said.
After finishing last season with a 10-8 record in the conference, the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll predicted the Chargers to finish third in the South Division this season behind Findlay and Ashland.
Over the course of the two-week preseason, the Chargers were able to scrimmage Calvin College, Grand Valley, Saginaw Valley, and Wayne State. These scrimmages allowed the Chargers to scope out some of their GLIAC competition before officially playing them later this fall.
“The other teams all looked really good too,” Wolfert said. “This year is going to be really competitive and we’ll have to work our butts off during every game but I think we’ll be able to compete well in the conference.”
The scrimmages also allowed the chargers to discover some of their own weaknesses. Gravel said that he hopes to reduce miscommunications by focusing on one or two lineups before their first tournament at Clarion University of Pennsylvania this weekend.
Tomorrow, the Chargers will play Clarion as well as Gannon University, ranked first and second respectively in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. On Saturday, the Chargers will match up against the North Alabama Lions who won the Division II National Championship in 2003.
“The first three matches will test us but I expect us to do well,” Gravel said. “We just need to play at a certain level and the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”