Before heading in to their week off from play, the women’s volleyball team (14-8, 5-1 GWC) bounced back from a home loss on Oct. 25 against Houston Baptist by sweeping Texas-Pan American three sets to none.
The performance for the lady Wolverines on Senior Day was exactly what the team was looking for before the break. The win put the team in a tie for first place alongside Houston Baptist in the Great West Conference standings.
Women’s volleyball is exactly where it needs to be before it enters the GWC Tournament. Head coach Sam Atoa commented on the success the young team has enjoyed this year.
“Coming in to this we knew that this was going to be a really young team, so we weren’t quite sure early on in the year how that was going to unfold with freshman kids and the inexperience that comes with that, but we knew we had some good athletes,” Atoa said.
One of those young bright spots has been freshman Lauren Stringham. Stringham was a two-time All-State volleyball player in high school and helped her team to the 2012 State Championship. She has played every set for the Wolverines this year and has become a force to be reckoned with for opposing teams.
“I am very pleased with the team’s effort and contributing,” Atoa said. “With a young team there are a lot of questions that need answering. We also weren’t quite sure with Erica’s [Nish] injury coming in to the season. We’re very happy with where she is at and the contribution she is making. She’s been huge for us. Everybody is doing their part. It has been great seeing them step up and sharing the responsibility.”
Senior Erica Nish, the only senior on the team, was honored during Saturday’s game. She leads the Wolverines with 173 kills, 10 of which came in the match against Texas-Pan American. The team will continue to need big play from her when the GWC Tournament starts Nov. 16 in Orem, but first, the team will need to focus on two road conference games.
The Wolverines face the Highlanders of New Jersey Institute of Technology on Nov. 8 and then play Nov. 10 at Chicago State.
