Normally when a volleyball roster includes six freshmen and four sophomores, the team faces a rebuilding year. Not the 2005 Jumbos. Despite its youth, coach Cora Thompson's squad has a conference championship in its sights coming off its 28-6, second place NESCAC finish last fall.
"We have very high goals," Thompson said. "We set the bar very high last year. We absolutely intend to win NESCACs. I think that's a realistic goal, but not an easy one by any means."
That drive for a NESCAC title will begin this Friday as the Jumbos head out to Williamstown, Mass. for the Williams Invitational. Although the tournament is just three days away, Thompson has not decided on a lineup yet, and is still considering all her options.
"We have a very, very strong and deep team," Thompson said. "We have a lot of different options and, having not competed yet, this weekend will be a big test. We're going to try some different lineups. Nothing is set in cement."
While Thompson is not sure which players will take the court, it is likely to be a young mix.
"This year we have a great mix of experience and young talent, so the first goal is to integrate as a team," senior co-captain April Gerry said.
After losing graduated senior Rebecca Schaevitz as well as sophomore Megan Tunstill to a debilitating back injury, Thompson was forced to recruit two freshmen to man the setter position.
"[Tunstill] will no longer be playing, due to a recurring injury from high school that has become a career-ending injury," she said. "[Setter] was a huge hole in our program."
That gap could be filled by freshmen Kaitlin O'Reilly and Stacy Filocco. While these rookies will be expected to step up, Thompson believes the surrounding talent will ease the process. Veterans, including American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention junior Kelli Harrison, All-NESCAC second team member senior co-captain Courtney Evans, and returning NESCAC Rookie of the Year Kay Lutostanski, will help ease the freshmen's transition to collegiate play.
Harrison, a member of the All-NESCAC first team, led the 2004 squad with 396 kills and was second with 415 digs.
Lutostanski, who leads a very strong group of sophomores, came on strong at the end of last year and finished with 2.07 kills per game. Thompson expects her to improve this year, especially on the defensive end.
"She's a sophomore now," Thompson said. "She's got a year under her belt and she knows what to expect and what we expect from her."
Those returning players will have to mesh with the less experienced players for the Jumbos to be successful, but Thompson is confident that will happen.
"This has been a unique team from the get-go," she said. "I've never had a team bond as quickly as this team has."
Whether that chemistry will translate to victory on the court remains to be seen. The Jumbos will get a glimpse this weekend, playing four matches including a Saturday finale against host Williams. The contest will be a rematch of the Jumbos' season-ending 3-0 loss to the Ephs in the conference championship last year.
"We're expecting it to be a tough tournament, and Williams is always good," Gerry said. "It's a good way to start the season. It's definitely a good test to get a preview of what our team can be."
Like the Jumbos, the Ephs' lineup will look a little different on the court as the team has had to replace departed All-Americans Joyia Chadwick, Meg Demment, and Robyn Young. The trio combined to lead Williams to a 133-18 mark in their four years, during which the Ephs had a stranglehold on the NESCAC Championship.
With Williams missing its three all-stars, many teams are now seeing a window of opportunity in the NESCAC. Yet Thompson is not underestimating the Ephs, who she says will still be a top team.
"They lost three seniors, all All-Americans," Thompson said. "It will be a huge loss for Williams. That was a great class. But their coach has built a great reputation and I'm sure they will get some big recruits."
The Jumbos will see those recruits in action on Saturday, and while Thompson relishes the opportunity to get a look at them, she is not putting too much importance on the early season match-up.
"It will be a good test, but it's also very early in the season," Thompson said. "Both teams will improve as the season goes on."
