In 23 years as the coach of Wesleyan's volleyball team, Gale Lackey has led the Cardinals to a berth in the 2001 NCAA Tournament, a 30-win season, and a NESCAC regular season title. The one thing missing from her resume is a NESCAC Tournament title, and that too could soon be within reach.
With a lineup that returns 2006 NESCAC Player of the Year Lisa Brennan and features size and depth along its front row, Wesleyan will make a serious run at its first-ever conference title this season.
The team will be without defensive specialist and four-year starter Tory Molnar, who graduated as the program's all-time leader in digs with 1,887. But the Cardinals, who last year ranked second in the conference in hitting percentage, assists, kills, and service aces, will remain an offensive juggernaut this season, and Brennan's return is a major reason why.
The junior outside hitter, who as a sophomore became the youngest volleyball player ever to win the NESCAC's highest individual honor, paced the conference with 528 kills in 2006, 77 more than her closest competitor, Amherst senior middle hitter Kristin Quinn. Brennan also features a deadly serve, as she collected 68 aces last season.
"She actually wasn't the most experienced player," Lackey said. "She didn't really play the club volleyball that a lot of people play in high school year-round. But she has amazing athleticism and she has a strong will to learn and improve. She's working on a more effective repertoire, and she's becoming a much better all-around player."
Wesleyan's three senior captains, middle hitter Caroline Rober, outside hitter Becca Rodger and outside hitter Jettie Word will join Brennan up front. At 6-foot-1, 6 feet and 5-foot-11, respectively, they combine with Brennan to give the Cardinals an imposing presence at the net.
"They make up the real core," Lackey said. "They're as much of a reason as anyone else that we have confidence in this team."
With so many big hitters on the team, sophomore setter Ellie Healy will once again be counted on to distribute the ball. Healy posted a strong rookie campaign in 2006, leading the NESCAC with 11.38 assists per game. With the depth of the team's front row and a year of experience under her belt, Healy may be gearing up for an even better 2007 season.
"As a setter, I have a lot of confidence in all of my hitters, and it actually makes my job a lot easier," Healy wrote in an e-mail to the Daily. "I know that any of them can put the ball down, which allows me to spread the ball across the net more."
The Cardinals will kick off their season this weekend with a tri-match against Williams and Wellesley that will immediately put their postseason ambitions to the test. The Ephs have reached the NESCAC title match in five of the past six years, while the Blue are a regional powerhouse that has not suffered a losing season since 1993.
"I think starting off the season with such a tough schedule is a really great way to get our team prepared for the season, both mentally and physically," Healy said. "Knowing that we have these big games right off the bat really pushed us in the preseason. Also, as we play them, we will discover what we need to do to get ready to play our league matches in the NESCAC."
But this weekend will only be a tune-up for what Wesleyan hopes is a historic season for its program. Lackey's players relish the opportunity to deliver their longtime coach, nine wins shy of 400 for her career, an opportunity to win her first conference championship.
"Gale has been a really great role model for all of the players, assisting us in not only our volleyball lives, but also our academic and personal lives," Healy said. "She is very deserving of a NESCAC title, and we would love to get it for her."
