The Observer, November 3, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 9
Volleyball split tri-match in final tune-up for UAA championships
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The Spartan volleyball team appears in great shape going into the UAA championships this weekend. The team has already surpassed their season goal of at least 10 wins, earning their 11th by defeating Oberlin at tri-match at Ohio Wesleyan University last weekend.
In the first match, Ohio Wesleyan defeated Case in three sets, 30-25, 30-20, 30-26. The team's stars made a valiant effort nonetheless with S.K. Piper leading the team with 17 kills. Andrea Lamont and Andrea Wojtowicz played well defensively with 20 and 17 digs, respectively.
The Spartans rebounded in the second match with their win against Oberlin.
"I think the frustrations from losing the Ohio Wesleyan match carried over as motivation and intensity to win our second match against Oberlin," Julie Schaefer said. "The intensity and effort improved dramatically in the second match. We were determined to leave with at least one win."
Led by Schaefer's 43 assists and 19 digs, the Spartans did just that, earning a 3-1 victory (30-25, 27-30, 33-31, 30-25). Piper also had another solid game, finishing with 24 kills, and Colleen Martin added 20 more.
The team faces a tough challenge this weekend with the UAA Championships. The morale of the team is high and so are their hopes.
"We are hoping to get two wins Friday against Carnegie Mellon and Rochester," Schaefer said. "If we take those two matches, we are guaranteed at least fourth place in the UAA."
If they can win those two games and get a few lucky bounces against Washington University in their match Friday night, the Spartans will not only meet their goals, but far surpass them. Even so, the women have had a great deal of success this season, and Farrell credits that to her players more so than anyone else.
"Our players have worked very hard to improve individually over the course of the season, and everyone has given maximum effort in their specific roles on the team," she said. "The team has a strong competitive spirit which has helped the team to victories in close matches."
It is with this competitive spirit that the Spartans hope to charge the UAA Championships this weekend and carry themselves to victory.
