by Filip Pavlovic
Contributing writer
Several SE teams have kicked off their fall seasons. One of the teams with big ambitions for this semester is the volleyball team. They have already started competing, and so far they have played 19 games with a 7-12 record, including five conference games (4-1).
“Our goal is to win the conference and hopefully make it to the nationals,” said outside hitter Lunden Azuara. Azuara is the only senior on the team, which has five freshmen.
“I am looking forward to this challenge, and I am not under pressure at all,” Azuara said. The upcoming match against rival ECU is on Tuesday, Oct.4 at 7 p.m. in the Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium and according to Azuara, this game will be a big spectacle.
Sophomore Chelsea White described their typical practice day. Usually, they start by watching a short film either of their own practice or of their opponents, and then they go to the gym and practice for around two and a half hours. They work on technique and focus on specific issues from past games, such as serving, receiving, etc. Afterward they play match points in which they try to use what they have worked on in a game-like situation.
When traveling away, they each listen to their own music and mentally prepare. The team spends time together on and off the court, according to White. Once a week they all have a team dinner, which is one of many ways they build team spirit.