Isabel Abarca
Senior Sports Writer
The Wooster volleyball team is nearing the end of their 2013 season and is currently in sixth place out of nine teams. With that ranking, the Scots are guaranteed a spot in the conference tournament. They have a minimum of two matches to work hard and try to continue their season for as long as possible.
The women have a 2-5 record in conference with victories over Kenyon College and Ohio Wesleyan University and with a hard-fought loss to Oberlin College. They have also lost tough matches to Hiram College, DePauw University, Denison University and the nationally ranked Wittenberg University.
Despite the Scots’ overall record (8-20), the women are really focusing on the conference playoffs and working hard to keep improving for those matches.
“I think we are extremely persistent and do not accept mediocrity,” said Zoë Zwegat ’14. “At the end of every practice or match, we want to walk out of the gym better than when we came in.” This attitude is consistent throughout the team and is certainly a strength for the volleyball team.
These ladies have had a handful of highlights this season and achieved many great things individually with contributions to the entire team. Many of the players, such as Catherine Benton ’14, Anna Emmick ’17 and Kaitlin Banko ’16, have all marked game-, career- and season-highs. Parker has been recognized for her impressive performance throughout her four years by earning a place in the 1,000-kill, 1,000-dig club with only two others in the program history.
Another big component of the Scots’ success and determination is the team’s close bond on and off the court. There are 13 women that make up the volleyball team, creating a very close-knit group that provides a strong support system. Paige Parker ’14, Erica Skillman ’14 and Zwegat are captains and are all very talented individuals that contribute leadership and experience to the team.
However, these characteristics are not restricted to just these three women; each player is essential to the success the team has seen this season. The depth within the offense has definitely been a factor that has helped the Scots secure a spot in playoffs.
The first-years have earned their spots on the court and all make positive impacts on the game and within the team. These four women were not given the chance to be timid or reserved. They make up almost a third of the team and were needed to step up and perform, which they most certainly did.
“The first-years bring a desire to learn and grow to the team. All four of them come from great volleyball programs and have been an asset to our team this year,” commented Zwegat. They will definitely continue to grow and be a solid core for the Scots for the next three years.
The team has two more matches left in regular season, one of which is a conference match against Allegheny College, currently ranked seventh. The Scots are looking to put themselves in a good position for the conference tournament by winning this last conference match.
“Our main goal is to continue to work hard and narrow our focus in the remaining practices,” expressed Zwegat, discussing her last few collegiate games.