Author: Ryan Whalen
The Occidental volleyball team (6-2 overall, 0-0 SCIAC) has started the 2013 season on a tear. After winning six of their first eight games, the Tigers are looking to prove that, although they are restricted from postseason play and have been handcuffed with recruitment limitations, they still have the drive to compete. A large part of the team’s poise can be attributed to the abundance of veteran players who have decided to push past the NCAA sanctions and instead showcase the squad’s many talents.
“One of our main goals this season is to prove that even though we are incapable of going to playoffs, we are still one of the top teams in the SCIAC conference,” setter Jessie Altman (senior) said.
The black and orange opened its campaign traveling over 2,000 miles away to Chicago for a four game tournament on Aug. 30 and 31. The unit had no problem stretching its legs after the long plane ride, and outside hitters Stephanie Gann (senior) and Dana Michels (sophomore) delivered 28 combined kills to power the potent Tiger offense to a decisive 3-1 victory over St. Norbert College.
However, the women were unable to capitalize on their offensive prowess, dropping the second game of the day 3-0 to host school Elmhurst College. The road trip concluded with back-to-back victories over Coe College and Buena Vista College. At the end of the weekend, Gann’s play earned her an All-Tournament selection.
“We’re just working to be the best team that we can be in season,” Gann said. “We still have a lot to prove to the other teams in the conference.”
The women returned to the court on Sept. 6 to participate in the Cal Lu Fornia Tournament. The Tigers handily defeated day one opponents Schreiner (3-0) and Linfield (3-1). Altman served up the attack with a total of 68 sets over the first two games while libero Madyson Cassidy (senior) anchored the defense with 49 digs. After extending their four game win streak by snagging a five set victory over Henrix, the black and orange lost the final game of the weekend to George Fox University, 3-2.
Although the roster for this year’s team is small at only 13 players, there are a finite number of weaknesses that may hamper the Tiger lineup.
“We’re just low in hitting numbers right now,” head coach Heather Collins said. “Really [it’s] just about them pushing through, and they’ve done a great job so far this season in our first two tournaments. They really gutted it out and battled through every match. And we’ve done pretty well with a 6-2 record.”
Michels has stepped up the most out of the hitters that Collins and company do have, currently leading the Tigers with 107 kills (3.45 per set). Though an outside hitter throughout high school, she looked to other styles of volleyball to help prepare for the season.
“One of our biggest challenges will be to stay healthy and to be willing to play different positions,” she said.
There are also several other Tigers that can close out games in addition to Michels. Even with a relatively small roster, the Tigers still have three players — Michels, Gann and Alyssa Mort (junior) — who have notched 80 or more kills. First-year Natalie Dwulet is a close fourth, hovering at just under 40 kills.
“I have never played on a team that closes out games as well as this one,” Michels said.
Already in mid-season form, the Tigers start SCIAC play this Friday at Caltech at 7 p.m.
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