For most, the first week of school means shopping for classes and settling back into school. But for the members of the volleyball team, it also means getting ready for the Georgetown Classic, their first competition, which takes place next weekend.
The volleyball team did not have the successful season they were hoping for last year, finishing 7-17 overall and 5-9 in Ivy League play. But the team is hoping this year will be a different story. Head Coach Diane Short said she believes that with her returning veterans and new players, the team can achieve a "winning record before the Ivies."
"We've improved - that I know," Short said. "We are in better shape, we have better ball control and we are cutting out a lot of unforced errors."
According to Short, Natalie Meyers '09 - captain and one of the two seniors on the team - has risen as the leader. She voiced the same kind of confidence about the team.
"A lot of our hitters are a lot stronger," Meyers said. "That was one area that we struggled in last year."
The Bears will look to show off their hitting skills against Ivy powerhouses Penn and Princeton on Oct. 17 and 18 at home and again on the road in their last two games on Nov. 14 and 15, where they hope to be playing for the league title.
The new members of the team are also an integral part of making this team more competitive. Five girls joined the Brown squad this year. Among them, Annika Gliottone '12 and Laurielle Hofer '12 could see a lot of playing time in their respective positions. Gliottone will compete for the libero starting position with veteran Kim Bundick '10. Hofer, a "big hitter" according to Meyers, will contend for the middle position.
Besides the addition of new players, the team also welcomes its new assistant coach, Scott Blanchard. This will be the second time Blanchard coaches the Bears. The first was a short stint as the assistant coach from 1995 to 1996, when the Bears won the Ivy League Championship. Meyers believes Blanchard's return will push the team further in the right direction.
"We are glad to have a male coach," Meyers said. "One of our problems last year was that we were too nice as a team. (Blanchard) keeps us a lot more focused."
The team looks to kick off a much more successful season with the Georgetown Classic next Friday and Saturday in Washington, D.C.
