The Seton Hill University (SHU) Women’s Volleyball team may be young, but this year as they step up with all of SHU’s other teams to NCAA status, they seek out a place at the WVIAC Tournament and the NCAA playoffs, while keeping their game exciting.
Under direction of head coach Rick Hall, the team prepares for their first season as full members of NCAA. “The fact that we can make the playoffs is a change for the better and it gives the team a goal to strive for,” said Hall.
“We are a team with great chemistry,” said freshman Michelle Ferrari. “The start of our season was a little rough, but we are definitely showing improvement with every match we play, especially after…we beat a team tied for first in our conference in five sets. That was probably the most exciting match I have ever played in.”
By Aja Hannah
Contributor
The Seton Hill University (SHU) Women’s Volleyball team may be young, but this year as they step up with all of SHU’s other teams to NCAA status, they seek out a place at the WVIAC Tournament and the NCAA playoffs, while keeping their game exciting.
Under direction of head coach Rick Hall, the team prepares for their first season as full members of NCAA. “The fact that we can make the playoffs is a change for the better and it gives the team a goal to strive for,” said Hall.
“We are a team with great chemistry,” said freshman Michelle Ferrari. “The start of our season was a little rough, but we are definitely showing improvement with every match we play, especially after…we beat a team tied for first in our conference in five sets. That was probably the most exciting match I have ever played in.”
Ferrari refers to SHU’s win against Charleston, which was quickly followed by their conquering of West Liberty. Currently, the team occupies 8th place in the WVIAC with a 4-3 record and an overall record of 6-7. “We definitely have the potential and the athletes to make the playoffs. We are a very young team but very talented,” said Hall.
Talented returning players include Reigh Steban, a senior outside hitter who Hall describes as “a tremendous volleyball player and leader on the team” and Anna Knestaut, a sophomore defensive specialist who “has continually gotten better at her position each time she takes the court,” said Hall.
But, Knestaut believes the team’s great ability not only stems from returning players like Steban and Lindsey Skorupan, but also from the new players. “All of the new players are very hard workers. They will definitely play a big part in the team’s success this year,” she said.
However, every team has room to improve and the Griffin Women are no exception. Knestaut said she and the players could improve by “playing better as a team,” while Hall said they could use improvement on “being capable of playing at a high level consistently.”
As a freshman Ferrari said, “I could not have asked to come into a program with a better group of girls on my team.”
