The Observer, September 8, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 2
Young volleyball team learns early season lessons
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Most young teams have growing pains, no matter the sport. Therefore, the volleyball team, featuring only two seniors and three upperclassmen, is going to take its bumps this season.
The news is not all bad, though. With a young team, coach Karen Farrell can begin to build a foundation for the years ahead, and the first step towards doing that is learning how to play as a team.
The experience of last weekend did just that for the Lady Spartans, as they played tough competition during the opening tournament of the season. The weekend's first match came against Mount Union, which Case lost 0-3 (14-30, 19-30, 22-30).
"Mount Union was strong offensively and defensively, especially for an opening weekend tournament," Farrell said.
The Spartans' best chance to win came against Westminster in the third match of the tournament. Case had a 2-1 lead in the match before dropping the last two games.
"Westminster was a little bigger than we were," Farrell said. "We played better defensively, and that kept us in points. At the end, we just couldn't finish off points."
The long Westminster match undoubtedly left the Spartans tired physically and emotionally for the tournament's last match, which Case lost to Dickinson.
While the Spartans were not able to earn a victory over the weekend, the matches gave Farrell and the team a sense of where they need to improve.
"We need to be much better, more well-rounded on offense," Farrell said. "We improved a tremendous amount in the first week, though, and I expect us to improve exponentially as the season goes on."
One of the young players who has contributed immediately is freshman S.K. Piper. She led the team with six kills in her first collegiate match against Mount Union, then came back with 20 kills the next day versus Westminster.
"I didn't have any nervousness about it," Piper said regarding playing in her first collegiate match. "I just play volleyball, have fun, and go get 'em."
That is a good attitude to have, especially during a season when a team must learn and pay its dues. Younger players often struggle with losing early in their careers, and senior Ashley Garman wants to make sure that the players keep their heads up.
"I try to give them support," she said. "I want them to keep their energy up and frustration down. Young teams expect a lot of themselves."
Garman also said that, with a lack of height and experience, ball placement and quickness become much more important to the team.
"You want quick offense that gives the other team less time to set up," she said. "We're not a tall team, so we have to play smart and not assume that we can get the block. We have to make sure to place the ball well."
The Spartans will look to take these lessons into their next matches today when they travel to nearby Baldwin Wallace for a tournament. They will play Saint Mary's and John Carroll today, with the first match set to begin at 5 p.m.
