Volleyball looks to improve after five losses in six matches
The Frog volleyball team takes on two Texas foes in what will be their last matches before the conference schedule starts.
By Jay Armstrong
Skiff Staff

The volleyball team has come back to earth after a fast start.

Starting with four straight wins, the team has lost five of their past six matches to fall to 6-8. However, head coach Prentice Lewis said there is no reason for gloom and doom.

“I don’t think our win and loss record reflects what the program has learned,” Lewis said.

Senior outside hitter Stephanie Watson said the errors that cost the team at critical times against Clemson are easily correctable.

“We played really well but we made some errors at the wrong time, like missing serves,” Watson said.

Despite last weekends 0-3 performance, the players said they were pleased with their effort.

“I think this weekend is the best we’ve played all year, even though we have losses,” senior outside hitter Jenn Cuca said.

But Lewis didn’t share the same sentiments.

“As the season goes on, everyone’s getting better,” Lewis said. “Our losses are because we didn’t come out to compete. Everyone was satisfied to just give a little bit. We’ve been doing the same things, practicing the same stuff over and over since then. As long as we compete, we can get wins.”

With two conference games against Southern Miss and Tulane next weekend, wins against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas-Pan American this weekend would serve as a springboard into conference play.

Team members say the losing streak has not dampened the team’s confidence, but their dream of an undefeated season has ended.

“Any team goes into the season expecting and wanting to have a perfect year,” Lewis said. “Reality doesn’t allow that.”

Lewis’ players echo her sentiment.

“We got brought back to reality,” Cuca said. “We can’t just go in there expecting to win, we have to go out there to beat them.”

The Frogs’ opponents this weekend are also steadily-improving programs like the team.

“They’re both independent, young programs that have been built up by young coaches with a lot of spirit to excel,” Lewis said.

As with any new team, the Frogs are learning key lessons with every loss. Perhaps the most important of these lessons is that the team learned to play every match with the same caliber of intensity, players said.

“We’re going to have to play at our top level to win,” Watson said. “This weekend we figured out how to work and help each other on the court.”

Despite their losing streak, the team only needs one victory to equal their entire win total from last season.