Girls' Volleyball Seeks Improvement this Fall
After a successful season last year, the girls' volleyball team looks to have an even stronger showing this year.
“Last year was really an amazing one,” upper manager Kevin Zhen said. “We beat Andover at E/A for the first time in over four years. We had amazing coaches and players.”
In order to have an even better season than last year's, the team will need to top a 13-7 record, which ended in a semifinals loss to Choate.
New additions should help the team accomplish this. Coach Bruce Shang has brought in a strong recruiting class, headlined by middle blocker and post-graduate Erika Steeves and upper outside hitter Katya Scocimara. At 6’1”, Steeves brings some much needed height to Big Red’s team. She will also bring her leadership to Exeter after serving as a captain for the Hotchkiss Bearcats last season. Scocimara will also bring height, standing at 5’10”. After seeing her kill percentage climb and her hitting and serving percentages drop from her freshman to sophomore year, she will look to rebound this season. Perhaps a change of scenery will help her as she leaves Palo Alto for Exeter.
At the heart of this team will still be the players coming back for their second and third seasons with Big Red.
“This is the year we have been preparing and building up for,” upper Michelle Bosche said. Led by senior captains Brooke Detwiler and Jenn Hawley, 11 of the 16 players from 2013’s squad will be returning. Of the six starters last season, five are coming back. Two of them, Detwiler and upper Taylor Jean-Jacques, were league all-stars. The captains and new recruits will not be the only players expected to play large roles for Shang’s squad. Upper-liberos Jess Hebl and Josie Russ will look to anchor the defense, and middle blockers Jean-Jacques and upper Peace Kabari will once again be expected to boost the offensive side that was so strong down the stretch.
The girls already have been working together to get ready for the season in prep camp.
“Prep camp is an awesome opportunity to spend time with new girls in a stress-free environment,” upper Zaidee Laughlin said. The time will allow for the team to build chemistry: an element of volleyball that can not be overstressed. For a game that relies so much on communication, it is very important for teams to build chemistry before the start of the season.
Chemistry may not be the biggest factor to the team’s success, however. Mental toughness may be the biggest obstacle to a deep run this year, Laughlin added.
“I can see us losing focus and psyching ourselves out under pressure,” she said. Nerves certainly play a role during games, especially in the playoffs. But the team should have enough experience to fight their way through any mental blocks.
The girls’ volleyball season kicks off on September 10 with a scrimmage against St. Paul’s, followed by a double-header against Taft and Hotchkiss on the September, 13. Key games to look for are September 20 at Choate, home against St. Paul’s on October 8, and the Andover games on October 15 and E/A on November 8. Every opponent on Big Red’s schedule better be put on notice. As Bosche said, “I know that me and most of the returning team are planning on coming back with a vengeance.”