According to Robert Hall, head women’s volleyball coach at Seton Hill University (SHU), this year’s volleyball team is one of the top three athletically talented teams he has ever coached. And he’s been coaching for 21 years.
Returning 10 of 12 players and adding four freshmen, the team is tied for first place in the conference. They share this spot with St. Vincent who they faced on Wednesday, October 5. They have a record 8-0 within the conference, and an 11-3 record overall, losing only to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and III schools.
By Caroline Jones,
Contributor
According to Robert Hall, head women’s volleyball coach at Seton Hill University (SHU), this year’s volleyball team is one of the top three athletically talented teams he has ever coached. And he’s been coaching for 21 years.
Returning 10 of 12 players and adding four freshmen, the team is tied for first place in the conference. They share this spot with St. Vincent who they faced on Wednesday, October 5. They have a record 8-0 within the conference, and an 11-3 record overall, losing only to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and III schools.
Co-Captain Lauren Wassil said, �The new players this year have adjusted to the atmosphere and team very well compared to the past years. I think that has helped us a lot so far this season.�
Freshman Reigh Steban is starting and playing the entire match, which Hall claims is �a very tough thing for a freshman to do.�
Reigh feels as if the expectations at the college level are much higher than they were in high school. She accredits much of her success to knowing the team prior to camp week. �I played all summer with the team so I felt like I fit in,� she said.
When comparing this year’s team to those of the past, students seem to agree that the team is exceptionally talented.
Junior Trisha Wehrle said, �We have a strong team all around, not just the starters.�
As Steban said, �We have fourteen starters.�
�If we stick together through the tough matches we could be unstoppable,� Wassil said.
The team is very aggressive and offensive. Hall claims that the team has a lot of athletes who tend to dominate, but the team knows how to come together as a team and one unit, which they take pride in.
�There is room for a lot of improvement,� said Hall, despite the team’s success.
One of his biggest concerns is mental aspect of the game. He said that not being mentally prepared or thinking you�re not involved in the play is one of the worst things that a player can do when they are on the court.
As the season progresses, Hall wants to make the team �the best volleyball team� he has ever coached. This is not an unrealistic task, as the team is aware of their capabilities and has relentless determination.
�Overall I think the team’s game is good, but if we can sure up all aspects and make sure we don’tmake silly mistakes then we can go far,� said Wassil.
As SHU has made a playoff appearance every year, winning the conference title is certainly in the cards.
�All SHU volleyball needs is to stay focused on the task at hand, and that’s winning the conference… one game at a time,� Wassil said.
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