Volleyball team primed for NCAC matches

With most non-conference play over, team has winning record

With a pair of 3-1 home wins this week, the women's volleyball team is taking a winning record into conference play, which begins Saturday.

The second of those victories, against Penn State University at Behrend Tuesday, was the team's most impressive of the year. Oberlin won 15-13, 15-13, 11-15, 15-12.

One of the confidence builders from the match was the knowledge that conference opponent Wittenberg - always a tough team - also took four games to eliminate Penn State.

"The Tuesday game was the best we've played so far," senior Naeli Joen said.

The Yeowomen came from behind to win the second game of the match.

"For the first time this year, I've seen them overcome some flatness in a match," coach Suzanne Garland said. "That was a good win for us."

The Yeowomen overmatched Lake Erie College in Friday's match by counts of 15-9, 15-13, 11-15 and 15-12.

The team's overall record is up to 11-7, placing it above the middle of the pack among NCAC teams before any conference matches have been played.

Most of the team's remaining matches will be against conference teams. Though they haven't played any of them, the team has watched about half the conference teams at tournaments already this year.

Oberlin is a different team than it's been in the past with more players taking on key roles. "A lot of people have taken responsibilities and they've accomplished a lot more," Joen said.

Garland also sees the upcoming teams as beatable. She said the only one of those teams that matched the complexity of the Yeowomen's offense was Case Western Reserve University.

The frequency of games is also slowing a bit for this part of the season. Early in the season, games were frenzied; they frequently had one day of practice after a game before another game.

Now, Garland said, the practices can be more intense with more time to prepare for each match. That time might be necessary. "I think all of us know the games are going to get harder," junior hitter Carissa Bennett said.

Next year, the opening part of the season is likely to include more stiff competition - something that could help the team qualify for NCAA championships if the team keeps improving, and something that will satisfy the players.

The team has improved from a 4-22 record last season already, so it's a team not used to victory. But, Garland said, there are some indications that they're growing into their role as winners.

"They are starting to believe it," she said. "They've been asking for a tougher schedule next year."

The team isn't satisfied with the improvements its made thus far. "All of us are really excited," Bennett said. "We don't want to stay at this level because we didn't think we'd get up here from where we were."

Get over it: Carissa Bennet pounds the ball to Lake Erie in Oberlin's match Friday. The Yeowomen beat Lake Erie in four games. (photo by Cristina Rudden)