Expectations aren’t the only things being raised around Loyola’s volleyball team lately.
A No. 2 seed in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournament, which begins Nov. 12 at Xavier University, combined with a six-game winning streak have inspired Coach Thomas Harold to raise the nets, literally.
“We raised them in practice,” Harold said, “to show that we’re working toward a higher goal. The higher net makes us work a little harder.”
With wins over Southern Wesleyan, Martin Methodist and Dillard University this past week, the team is doing just that, improving its record to 5-3 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and 17-13 overall.
In the team’s 30-28, 30-22, 30-27 victory against Dillard, Shannon LaHaie, accounting senior, led the way with 11 kills and two aces. Mary Seals, general business freshman, had 13 kills and accounting junior Kelly Fridge had 28 digs. Setter Sarah Howard, communications freshman, added 57 assists for the ‘Pack.
“We had a lot fewer errors this match,” Harold said, comparing the team’s performance to its loss against Dillard earlier in the season.
The ‘Pack finished the season in a tie for second with Dillard. Both teams were swept by conference regular-season champion Spring Hill, with Loyola losing 3-1 in Mobile and 3-2 in the Den.
Harold attributed the winning streak to his younger players getting used to college volleyball.
“They’re learning what it takes,” Harold said. “You have to play every point of every match. The streak gives a good little boost. We rolled through the second round of conference.”
Last Saturday, Loyola won two games in the Faulkner tournament in Montgomery, Ala., Ashley Cobette, management senior, had 17 kills in a 33-31, 30-28, 30-24 victory over Southern Wesleyan. LaHaie had 13 kills, Howard had 52 assists and Fridge had 23 digs.
LaHaie had 16 kills in the ‘Pack’s 30-23, 29-31, 30-20, 30-28 defeat of Martin Methodist. Howard had 60 assists, five blocks and four assists. Fridge had 36 digs, and Cobette had 15 kills.
Harold said the ‘Pack has confidence entering the GCAC tournament.
“It’s a matter of working hard. You can’t take points off,” he said. “There’s not a lot of separation between the teams. It’s a matter of who’s going to be more focused.”
Senior leadership should help Loyola in the tournament, because the seniors have already been to the tournament and won, Harold said.
“That certainly helps. They set the tone and know what to expect. This is their last chance to do something special. They have set some high expectations.”
Gene Guillot can be reached at [email protected].
