By William Masselli ~ Editor in Chief
On Sept. 15, 2021, the University of Lynchburg Women’s Volleyball Team opened conference play by sweeping their Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) rival, Guilford.
Before this conference victory, the team played a challenging out of conference schedule.
However, coaches and players believed that the challenging out of conference schedule allowed their team to develop perseverance, a necessary trait to prevail in a five-set match.
Head Coach Hannah Givens, said, “I think that the win against Cabrini helped us gain confidence coming into the season and ODAC play. This was actually the 10th win I have had as Head Coach. I was named head coach during the season in the spring. The win also helped us realize that we could push through a five-set match.”
Givens continued, “I think that there will always be an increase in expectations, win or lose. We are always looking to play high level, competitive volleyball.”
In the out of conference win, Abigail Leeper, a junior outside hitter, recorded nine kills.
Leeper credited her coaches for her success. She said, “Since the start of practice, we’ve adopted the mindset from our weight lifting coach, Coach Smith, of getting better every day. Taking this into practice every day has helped me stay motivated and reach my goals. I want to improve by achieving my goals I’ve set for myself and also improving as a leader, on and off the court. I think last year my hitting and passing really contributed to the team.”
Leeper concluded by talking about what is the most necessary element for her teammates to succeed, stating, “I think the most important thing is communication. It’s an important life skill, not only for volleyball. Speaking up and not being afraid to hold people accountable is a crucial part of how our team works.”
If you are interested in attending the University of Lynchburg Women’s Volleyball games, please visit (lynchburgsports.com)2021 Lynchburg Volleyball Schedule – Lynchburg (lynchburgsports.com) to view the team’s upcoming schedule.
Sources
Hannah Givens givensh397@lynchburg.edu.
Abbi Leeper leepera744@lynchburg.edu.
Volleyball sweeps Guilford to win ODAC opener – Lynchburg (lynchburgsports.com).
