Women’s Volleyball Drops Sixth Straight
The Waynesburg University women’s volleyball team was in action on Saturday night as the Yellow Jackets [0-6, 0-1] dropped their sixth consecutive match to start the season on the road at Frostburg State [4-4, 0-0].
Waynesburg won the second set, 25-23, but dropped the first, third and fourth sets by scores of 25-9, 25-11 and 25-20, respectively.
After losing 16 straight sets, the Jackets were finally able to take their first set of the year, winning 25-23. Unfortunately, the Jackets would lose the next two sets, losing the match 3-1.
“They [the team] struggled early on in the season,” said coach Stephanie Benkowski. “They aren’t putting their heads down. It’s too early for that to happen. They’re working really hard at practice and it finally paid off for one set but it isn’t constant yet.”
After falling behind in the match 1-0, Waynesburg took the second set, finally showing the improvement of giving five underclassmen serious playing time, according to Benkowski. The inconsistency still shows on the court, according to Benkowski, as the Jackets doubled Frostburg in errors with a total of 32 as opposed to 16 for Frostburg State.
“It has a lot to do with a lot of new players and just getting to know each other, or playing a new position,” Benkowski said. “I think it’s really early in the season and they are feeling each other out.”
The Yellow Jackets most consistent hitter from the game was Rachel Lang, as the senior had a .136 kill/error ratio that was the best among any hitters with 15 or more attacks. It was the other senior hitter, Shannon Morgan, that led the team in kills with seven, but also led with three service errors.
Sophomore setter Sydni Ayers led the game 27 assists and freshman libero Alyssa Proper also led the game with 20 digs, defensively. The young Jackets have effective hitters, setter and passers, according to Benkowski, and it is has become a matter of avoiding service, hitting and passing errors.
“Jordan [Wyllie] and Lexy [Waldman] did very well today,” Benkowski said. “I mean they had their moments, they’re very inconsistent at this moment but they’ll get better, I saw that today.”
Waynesburg will travel to the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.