Volleyball ‘Sets’ Eyes on a Better Half of Season

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The Goucher women’s volleyball team had big goals for their 2017 season when coming back this school year. Unfortunately, those goals were quickly crushed in the first half of September when the Gophers found themselves losing seven straight matches.
The 2016 season was a rough one for the team. They had a 7-19 overall season. They only beat one team in the Landmark Conference, in which both Juniata and Susquehanna made it to the NCAA Division 3 Volleyball Championships.
However, the returning girls worked hard over the winter, spring, and summer. In the winter, they joined the women’s tennis team and field hockey team in speed and agility training every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You could see the girls in and out of the weight room or the gym working on their skills.
The team now consists of what would be considered a ‘junior varsity’ squad: three sophomores and six freshman.
The Gophers started out the 2017 season with an exciting tournament opportunity in Virginia Beach playing Cabrini, St. Catherine, and Virginia Wesleyan. The team lost all three matches, but did make a run for it against St. Catherine and Virginia Wesleyan, losing only 3-1. The team went on to lose the next four matches.
But all was not lost. The team made a comeback, winning against Gwynedd Mercy, 3-0. That win was followed by another 3-0 win against Bryn Mawr 3 days later. And another win followed against Immaculata, 3-2.
During their first conference match against Susquehanna, the team fell to the River Hawks 3-0. The Gophers fell to Scranton as well, 3-0.
The volleyball team was predicted to finish in seventh place, but is currently tied for fifth place, alongside Catholic and Elizabethtown. They are working to getting back on track and beat their seventh place prediction.
The Gophers aren’t only working to make a dent in the Landmark Conference, they are working to create a sense of community.
The Gophers just recently held a successful volleyball clinic for middle school girls who play at a local recreation league in the area. The team has also volunteered their time at the Ronald McDonald House for the past few years.
The Gophers are currently 3-12. Their next scheduled home match is Wednesday, October 18th at 7:00 PM against Lancaster Bible.

KAYLA YORK

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