Coming off of the best season in program history, the volleyball team will look to continue its 2007 success this year. Last season the Firedogs got a big taste of the NCAA Tournament and they are hungry for more.
The 2007 Firedogs had some serious accomplishments during their campaign. Not only did they reach the Elite Eight of the national tournament for the first time in program history, but they finished the season with a record of 30-5 and received the number one seed in the NESCAC Tournament.
The Jeffs recognize the importance of using last year’s success to bolster confidence and to energize the team. The players also know that this season Amherst College will be the team to beat in the conference.
“Returning players need to keep the same fire we ended with, which will hopefully inspire the incoming freshmen to get excited as well,” said Rachel Yorke ’11. “It’s all about building momentum and trust within the team.”
Though the players are pleased with their 2007 performance, they are aware of the improvements that need to be made and the gaps that need to be filled. The Firedogs lose 2007 NESCAC Player of the Year Jaclyn DeMais ’08, who not only led the team with nearly five kills per game, but also acted as a motivator and energizer. The team will also need to fill the shoes of 2008 graduates Whitney Kouvaris and Julie Berkley.
“We need to capitalize on our strengths, be quicker to recognize an opponent’s weaknesses and work harder than the team on the other side of the net,” said quad-captain Sara Heller ’09. “If we control what we can and keep the game at our pace, I think we’ll be very successful.”
Heller will share the captaincy with fellow seniors Alison Munzer, Claire Holton-Basaldua and Hannah Wirth. Heller, who led the NESCAC in with 11.65 assists per game in 2007, will organize the offense from her position as setter, while Munzer, Holton-Basaldua and Wirth will need to take control of the scoreboard. Yorke, a 2007 rookie, performed her duties as libero all but flawlessly and, with 5.70 digs per game last season, will be Amherst’s leader on defense.
With a relatively small bench, the ’Dogs will look to their first-years to be ready for the pressure that comes with playing in college.
“Everyone on the team plays an important role, so it’s going to be important for the [first-years] to step up and prove themselves as collegiate athletes,” said Holton-Basaluda. “They have never played at this level of competition before so it will be good for them to challenge themselves and step up to the plate. We would like to see them all step up and become key players.”
Though the 2007 season was undoubtedly a success, the Firedogs failed to capture the coveted title of NESCAC Champions. After winning the conference in 2006, the ’Dogs relinquished the trophy to Williams College last year. This season, the Firedogs would like to reclaim that title—hopefully on the way to becoming NCAA Champions.