The young but experienced Wooster volleyball team looks to start the season with the tradition of winning that the program has enjoyed over head coach Sarah Davisí first two seasons in charge.
Following a second place finish in the 2008 NCAC tournament, the Scots look to reload the team that graduated three key contributors to the success of the past season. The expectations for continued success remain high. Meredith Kiefer í12 said that, ìour expectations for this season are just as high as they were last year. This team has a chance to do really well.” Davis added, ìI have very high expectations that if this team continues to work hard and play together that we can be in the mix among the top four in the conference.”
The team returns eight letter winners to the court this season including 2008 NCAC Newcomer of the Year Lizzi Beal í12 and All-American KateLynn Riley í10 who paced the Scotsí attack last season with career performances. Beal recorded 1,095 assists to earn the fifth best total in school history while Riley racked up 447 kills for fourth best all-time. Of the eight returning players only three are upperclassmen, and only two are seniors.
A solid core of experienced players remains from a team that won twenty matches in 2008 including many sophomores who gained a lot of experience under intense circumstances as first-years.
Five new first-year players, who will be expected to contribute significantly, join the experienced foundation of returning players. ìThe freshmen will play a huge role.” Riley said of the first years, ìWe have a lot of spots to fill especially in the backcourt with Ali [Drushal] í09 leaving, and Megan [Earle] í09 too.” Davis said, ìWe lost some great seniors in our program but weíve gained a lot of great incoming freshman who have really brought hard work and dedication to the squad.”
The five first-year players certainly have brought a lot to the court through the preseason portion of the young season. Returning defender Amanda Gottesman í11 stated, ìI think we have some starters in the first years. Theyíre in really good shape. They have a lot of energy and they are really positive.”
Both Davis and numerous returning players emphasized the importance of teamwork and chemistry in order for the teamís success to continue and to improve upon an impressive finish to last season.
Gottesman spoke specifically about chemistry when she said the players were working to make sure, ìthat we are really making sure that we are friends on and off of the court; that we act like a family.” Kiefer and Riley both uttered the same phrase when asked, emphasizing the ìneed to try and come together as a team.”
When asked about the goals of this yearís team and her expectations for this year Davis simply said, ìWe want to get better every single practice, every single day. We want to be a better team in November than we are in September. Having a team that can work as six independent bodies coming together to work for that goal of getting better every day and having great leadership is really going to be important for this squad.”
The teamís first action of the season will be a trip to Heidelberg Sept.1.