2008 Woodie Awards
Volleyball Maintains Confidence
Denis McGuire Staff Reporter/Travis Flynn Sports Editor
Issue date: 9/29/05 Section: Sports
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The women played their first two matches against New Jerseys Rider University and St. Peters College and lost both.
With the weekend on the line, the team needed a win. The match was as competitive as any they've played this year.
After building a 2-0 lead with 30-22 and 30-27 wins, the Pioneers lost games three and four 30-26 and 30-23, respectively. In the deciding game five, the Pioneers took an early 5-1 lead and held on to close out the match with a 15-10 win.
Sophomore Christine Duffy led the Pioneers with 19 kills on 14 attempts. Senior Heather Brooks struck 13 times on 27 attempts.
Sophomore Samantha McMillan added nine kills while contributing with 26 assists, and 17 digs, and five service aces. Junior Justina Bell had five kills on 12 attempts while freshman Katie Thomas picked up 20 digs.
Earlier Saturday, the Pioneers managed to steal the second game 30-26 from Saint Peter's, who finished the weekend 2-0. Saint Peters pulled out the victory by taking games one, three, and four by the scores of 30-26, 30-15, and 30-13, respectively.
"The season so far has been a success in our eyes," junior captain Charnette Porter said. "We're blending a lot more on the court and once our intensity is there, we feel as though we can outplay any team."
Brooks was named to the SHU Invitational All-Tournament Team along with Serra Soylu and Gulhan Cakcak of Saint Peters, Megan Smith and Stefanie Lombardo of Rider, and Yael Rozner of Maryland-Eastern Shore.
The tournament gave the Pioneers a much needed win. From the opening game of their season, they have suffered many setbacks.
On Wednesday, Sept. 7, the women'svolleyball team kicked off their season opener at home against Holy Cross. They suffered a hard loss but would try and redeem themselves at a tournament that took place at Lafayette over the weekend of Sept. 9 and 10.
During the weekend, the team played in four games, managing only one win.
The following weekend was more of the same, with the girls taking one of four games.
Despite all the tough losses the team has taken, junior team captain Charnette Porter remains confident. "The season so far has been a success in our eyes," she said. "We're blending a lot more on the court and once our intensity is there, we feel as though we can out-play any team."
"We did have a few tough losses," Porter said, "But it's just a matter of fixing our little mistakes, which we're ironing out in practice."
The team practices for about two hours a day, to compliment the weight lifting they have set aside for certain days of the week.
With all the training, a great attitude, and freshmen who are improving with every match and every weekend, Porter feels that the team will be ready by playoffs.
"Everyone contributes to the team. Everyone is so talented in their own specific way that we all collaborate with each other and complement one another," she said.