Last season's team experienced a heartbreaking midseason loss when senior tri-captain Natalie Soud broke her hand in an incidental sparring accident. Shaken by the abruptness of the injury, the team failed to regain its full form and squandered their opening round playoff match with Tufts. However, this year's leadership suggests that last year's experience will only help strengthen the Firedogs.
"I think that this season will be a successful one because we have a small team and we will have a lot of team unity," explained senior co-captain and middle blocker Kristin Quinn. "Many of us have now played together for at least one season and I think that this will give us a great advantage over other teams."
Quinn, along with co-captain defensive specialist Laura Golden '07, will lead a group that has seen a lot in their tenure together. Last season, Amherst beat archrival Williams College for the first time in 11 years in a come-from-behind five-game match; but the squad also lost heartbreakers to Colby College and Tufts. But the chemistry they established last year will certainly continue through this season as they climb through the NESCAC and play more games together.
Quinn is the unquestioned leader on the court and a two-time all-NESCAC selection as well as the 2003 New England Rookie of the Year. She will hold down the middle blocker position along with Beverly Hills' own Alison Munzer '09. Both players' performance and improvement throughout the season will be a huge part of the team's success as they hope to establish themselves as a dominant duo in the middle.
However, the efforts of Quinn and others will largely depend on the productivity of sophomore Sarah Heller. Her position as setter is arguably the most important on the court and requires tremendous instinct and agility. But Heller is no stranger to pressure, as she was thrust into action last year as a rookie replacement for departing three-time all-NESCAC setter Annie Hoeksma '05. Handling the situation remarkably last year was a huge step for the So Cal native, but Heller will again be relied on this season to create scoring opportunities for her team.
Outside hitter Jaclyn DeMais '08 was the only other player to receive NESCAC plaudits last season and will be joined by fellow junior Whitney Kouvaris and sophomores Hannah Wirth and Claire Holton-Basaldua at the position. DeMais has been a force since her first year on the court and will be relied on during this season to lead the Firedogs. Holton-Basaldua sees this season as an important step in the development of the team for now and in the future.
"I think this upcoming season is going to build on our success from last season," said Holton-Basaldua. "I feel like we learned a lot as a team last season and have grown more because of it."
A key element of the defensive efforts of any volleyball team is the cohesiveness of the back row. Fortunately, co-captain Golden will lead the Firedog back line along with incoming first-year Bethany Belisle and experienced libero Julie Berkley '08. Incorporating the Texas newcomer Belisle will be a routine challenge for an experienced leader such as Golden, and with the help of the veteran Berkley, the defense should have no trouble hitting on all cylinders.
Overall, the Firedogs seem poised and ready for an exciting season. The team's execution and consistency are the only things standing between the Firedogs and a NESCAC crown, but the unity and skill that is already in place will be the driving force in what is sure to be a successful fall slate.
NESCAC Notes
In a remarkably even conference, Colby and Tufts will attempt to lead the NESCAC yet again.