Volleyball players seek last win
In their last two home matches, seniors Stephanie Watson and Jenn Cuca have the opportunity to help the volleyball team clinch a spot in the postseason for the first time in three years.
By Jay Armstrong
Skiff Staff

When seniors Stephanie Watson and Jenn Cuca arrived here in 1999, the TCU volleyball team had just come off a an appearance in the Western Athletic Conference tournament.

It was the last time the Frogs would play in the postseason. The conference tournament was eliminated right when Cuca and Watson came aboard, essentially ending the Frogs chances at playing in the postseason.

However with just one more win in its final four games, the team can clinch a spot in the Conference USA tournament in Chicago at the end of the month, ending a three-year postseason drought.

It would be even sweeter for the two seniors, who have the chance to secure the win in one of their last two home matches of their career at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum this weekend.

“I’m excited because as far as our record goes, it starts over at conference” Cuca said. “As long as we get there, we can begin again. It’ll be like icing on the cake.”

Watson said making the conference tournament would make her senior season longer and more enjoyable.

“Every senior class wants to say they made the difference, but I’m not ready for the season to end yet, and I’d love to prolong it as long as possible,” Watson said.

Watson and Cuca have been veteran influences in a rebuilding process that has seen an influx of five freshmen seeing heavy time in the rotation as the team builds for the future around first-year head coach Prentice Lewis.

However, Lewis said both seniors have served as a building block for the program.

“Coaches usually build the program around senior talent, and this year they came in with the attitude of a true senior,” Lewis said. “Both have tried very hard to fill the position of a leader. They’ve been good team leaders off the court. They’re good examples of what a student athlete is on and off the court.”

The seniors have accepted the responsibility of leading the young Frog team, as nine of the team’s 11 members will return next season.

“Seniors have to lead,” Watson said. “It is a duty of a senior that I was ready for.”

Winning the one game the team needs may not come as easy as the Frogs would like, as they face Cincinnati at 7p.m. today. The Bearcats are currently on a 10-match winning streak.

The team will then play Louisville at 7 p.m. Saturday facing the Cardinals’ triple threat of Bing Sun, Sarah Drury and Benny Flynn. Sun leads the team in kills with 374 for the year. Drury averages 4.28 digs a game and Flynn paces the Cardinals in blocks with 16 solos and 85 block assists.

Before Saturday night’s match, there will be a ceremony held for Watson and Cuca at Daniel-Meyer.

s.j.armstrong@tcu.edu
Sports editor Danny Gillham contributed to this story.