Multiple injuries, new teammates, and an ever-changing lineup couldn’t stop this team
The WVU Women’s Club Volleyball C team participated in a tournament in Slippery Rock this past weekend, the first tournament without the A and B teams being able to cheer them on from the sidelines. The team was ranked second in a 4 team pool.
A match against Gannon B left the team euphoric. The energy was high and gameplay was aggressive, and the Mountaineers were able to target the weaknesses of their opponents. The back row players were able to consistently pass on target, allowing the setter to run different plays from the middle. WVU beat Gannon 25-9 in the second set, securing the first victory the team had seen all season. Heading into the match against Slippery Rock, the team was confident in their chances of success. This was short-lived, as unforced errors seemed to dominate the game, and Slippery Rock scored most of their points on Mountaineer errors. Pool play concluded with a match against Indiana University of Pennsylvania A. This team was a well-oiled machine, and WVU knew that this match would be a challenge. WVU played a strong defensive game and covered the net well. Despite their exceptional effort, the Mountaineers fell short and lost to the Crimson Hawks.
The team’s performance in pool play placed them in the silver bracket. Fairmont State was the first team to face off against WVU in the single-elimination portion of the tournament. It was no secret that the talents of the Mountaineers surpassed those of Fairmont State. This match served as a field day for the front row players, who played as if they were competing with each other to see who could slam the ball down the hardest. Serving runs and multiple aces in a row were able to propel the Mountaineers to an early lead. This lead remained strong throughout the match, resulting in a semi-final victory and advancement to the championship match. Gannon A and the Mountaineers faced off for the silver championship. It appeared as if Gannon B had given up before the game had begun. The teams were closely matched in both, but the Mountaineers were able to pull away at the end to win the bracket.
This tournament showed significant improvement for the C team. Their roster has constantly changed, with multiple injuries early on. The team constantly faces adversity but adapts to change with a smile. It is remarkable that they were able to go from a team that couldn’t win a match, to victors. Players such as Kailyn Nestor, Grace Kerr, and Joy Hursey are hardworking athletes that were instrumental in the team’s success on Saturday. Kailyn set a 5-1 as the only setter and was able to make a perfect set out of any pass that came her way. Her sets enabled hitters such as Joy Hursey to get kills. Joy is a middle hitter and earned the name “brick wall” at the tournament. She repeatedly blocked attacks from the middles on opposing teams, increasing her team’s energy. Grace Kerr was a defensive machine throughout the day. She hustled, covered her hitters, and passed dimes on defense and serve receive.
The Mountaineers travel to Penn State on December 7th. Follow @WVUClubVBall for updates.
About the Author
Samantha Higley is a freshman who began writing for WVUGO in August 2019 with
an emphasis on Club and Intramural Sports. She plans to earn a degree in Neuropsychology
with a minor in History. Samantha is also on the Club Volleyball team at WVU.