Ripon College Days

Media Credit: Photo by Nancy Grier Poised for action. Ashley Redman, Jeni Yaeger and Jessica Chatmon wait for the serve. With much of the season left to play, the team is rebuilding after losing last year's key starters. [Click to enlarge]

After running into some stiff competition early in the season, the women's volleyball team is looking to rebound from their poor start, especially by the time conference play rolls around.

Pulling out three wins in four games at the season's first home game and opening tournament, the following weekend the team lost every game at the tournament. With a few wins sprinkled in between then and now, their next opponent will be Friday, Sept. 30 at Carroll College.

"We play good schools to make us better," says Kelly Witte, head coach of women's volleyball. "Our goal is to get better everyday, then by the time we get to the conference games our goal is to win it."

According to Midwest Conference Coaches, Ripon volleyball is expected to finish third in the conference standings, ousted from the top two by St. Norbert and Lake Forest.

"Wisconsin volleyball is one of the toughest states in the Midwest," says Witte. "We host seven teams ranked in the top 20, and we have already played three of them."

One of the season's hardest losses was to Maranatha Baptist Bible College earlier this month.

"It was a huge upset," says sophomore setter Mary Friend. The team lost the first game, won the second, lost the third and battled through the fourth game to lose 33 to 35.

"We underperformed and should have won that game. We haven't started out the way I expected to. I am still searching to find the right combination," says Witte, who has been testing the strength of different lineups. "It's tough to find the right balance."

Part of the shuffling is due to the loss of five starters this year, including last year's Conference Player of the Year Janine Emmer. Filling in the open positions are five new recruits.

"[The first years have] adapted to the team well," says junior Ashley Redman, the starting setter.

"They are very talented [new recruits] and know the game well," says Witte. "They have a lot of energy and work hard. I have high expectations for the group, they can go far. We just need to make a more smooth transition."

So far, however, the season has been "frustrating and disappointing," says first year Natalie Greenen, outside hitter. "It's hard to play as a team when everyone is still meeting each other."

With almost evenly split between upper and underclassmen, Witte says the key is to find leadership. "With such a hard schedule, it's hard to find it."

They're also working on getting quicker and more "court sense," she says.

"We are working on defense and passing," says Friend. "We are making little mistakes, and we have to start picking ourselves up" added Friend.

Despite any stumbles, the team is working hard and expects to step up for key conference games.

"Once we put it together we'll be unstoppable," says Greenen. "We have a lot of talent."

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