Volleyball Ends Season 1-27
The Waynesburg University Yellow Jacket volleyball team concluded its season last Thursday, Oct. 27, at La Roche College.
The team was able to win set two, but dropped the first, third and fourth sets en route to its 27th loss.
The final record for the Jackets was 1-27, with the final Presidents’ Athletic Conference record being 0-18.
“Of course I wish the team did something different, who wouldn’t,” said head coach Stephanie Benkowski. “And of course I feel that I could have done something better to help the team. Looking back on the year, a lot could have been changed by coaches and players. It started with a super short preseason and we felt we had a good game plan going in, but looking back it was the start of our inconsistency.”
The scores of the sets won by La Roche were 25-16, 25-12, and 25-18. Waynesburg’s win had a score of 25-18.
“This team had so much potential that we never showed to anyone, but despite that we didn’t give up,” said freshman defensive specialist Alyssa Proper. “To me that is not something that many other teams could accomplish.”
The offensive effort for the Jackets was led by sophomore outside hitter Jordyn Wyllie, who had 13 kills. Joining the effort was sophomore setter Sydni Ayers, who had 25 assists. Proper had two aces for the Jacket offense as well.
The defensive effort for Waynesburg was led by Proper, who had 24 digs.
“I think that we had too much mental stuff going on this year,” said Ayers of the struggles of the team during the season. “And we couldn’t just step out on the court and play.”
The Redhawks edged the Jackets 10-4 in aces, 5-3 in blocks and 41-31 in assists.
Coach Benkowski said the returning players have some things to work on in advance of the 2017 season.
“Each player that is returning will have specific things to work on individually and as a team,” said Benkowski. “We will be working on things during the spring to hopefully be consistent together and hopefully we will see that in the Spring tournament that we will attend.”
Proper has ideas as well.
“I really need work on my game mentally during the off season,” said Proper. “My skills need tuned too, but without being mentally strong there is not a lot I can do with my skills.”
The team will begin practicing again together in January for a tournament that will take place during the spring.