Although injuries and a lack of experience have put a major spike in the University of Denver women’s volleyball team’s season, they expect to dig themselves out of their current hole and make the conference tournament.
The Pioneers entered this past weekend with a four-game losing streak and a 10-13 overall record.
Early season injuries to senior Kelli Rudelson and sophomore Lisa Hunter, a pre-season all-Sun Belt Conference team pick, have forced the team to change its strategy to a large extent.
In their places, several freshmen that were originally not expected to play have stepped up.
“Our freshmen middles have done a good job,” said Head Coach Beth Kuwata. “They were definitely thrown into the fire, but they have done well for us.”
Freshmen Kim Muller and Sarah Wirth have shouldered most of the load replacing Rudelson, with some play in the middle by freshman Alyta Baris as well.
However, injury struck the team again three weeks ago, sidelining Wirth with stress fractures in each of her legs.
Kuwata said, “Sarah has been cleared to play in games, but will sit out practices.”
“It is extremely difficult to not practice and then play in a game, especially as a freshman, so I just hope that we won’t have to end up needing her.”
Finally, some good news is on the horizon for the team though, and just in time.
Lisa Hunter has just been released to play after sitting out all of October and having hand surgery to repair a bone fracture.
“Having Lisa back will give us a huge lift,” said Kuwata, “both physically and emotionally.”
Assistant coach Billy Hardison continued with this optimism, saying, “Hunter is day-to-day, but I think she will have an immediate impact, simply because she changes the dynamic of our team due to her size and power.”
The team had created a lofty goal of winning the Sun Belt Conference tournament at the beginning of the season, but due to the injuries and their recent string of losses, they have been forced to slightly alter that goal.
“Overall,” said Hardison, “our goal now is just to get into the SBC tournament and to do the best we can once we get there.”
Junior Amanda Millard, agreeing with coach Hardison, said, “We would still love to win, but we need to have a smaller goal right now – just focusing on each game in order to simply make it into the tourney.”
The team is currently ranked No. 7 in the SBC standings and needs to be among the top eight in order to qualify for post-season play.
Fortunately for the Pioneers, their last two games are at home, where they have played much better than they have on the road. Truly a tale of two seasons, the team has compiled a 5-10 record away and a convincing 7-3 record at home.
“Honestly, I don’t know why it is that we can’t seem to play well on the road,” said Millard.
“I feel that we have handled the pressure from opposing fans and their heckling really well, but I think we tend to play a little more timid because we are uncomfortable in other gyms.”
Millard continued, “If we just play our game and be a little more aggressive, I know we will make the tournament and do well in it.”
Come cheer the women’s volleyball team to the Sun Belt Conference tournament in their last action at home this upcoming weekend.
The Pioneers play host to SBC rivals, the University of South Alabama Jaguars on Friday, at 7 p.m. and the University of New Orleans Privateers on Saturday, at 7 p.m.
