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The University of Maine women’s volleyball team began its 2001 season by hosting the first Sea-Sun Opener Invitational last weekend, and placed third out of four teams, with a record of 1-2.
While those results might not seem spectacular, head coach Sue Medley knows her team came away from the tournament with something perhaps more valuable- experience.
“September is going to be a major test for us,” Medley, who begins her third year as Black Bear head coach, said. “We open with a very strong tournament at home, and then we go to Alaska where we’ll face three more strong teams. The strength of our schedule compared to last year is significantly stronger.”
UMaine lost to Boston College in three hard-fought games to open the tournament on Friday (31-29, 30-28, 30-27). Senior outside hitter Leah Voss, the America East conference leader in kills and digs in 2000, picked up where she left off last season, registering a match-high 16 kills in the losing effort. She also led the team defensively with nine digs. Sophomores Claire Poliquin (11 kills) and setter Cheryl Elliott (37 assists) also looked sharp for the Black Bears.
This year’s squad is a mix of six returning players and six newcomers, all of whom are challenging for starting spots and playing time.
“Our strongest position is our depth,” Medley said.” We will be much more competitive against our opponents, and that is going to make our team stronger.”
The Black Bears showed that strength and depth in its match against the Army Black Knights on Saturday, picking up its first victory of the season in three games (30-24, 30-22, 30-25). Voss again led the way with a match-high 16 kills and 10 digs, but she also had plenty of help.
Senior Adrienne Poplawski had 21 digs, and eight kills. Poliquin added 10 kills, reaching double digits for the second time in as many games.
First-year player Carmen Gabriel had the best game of her young career with eight kills, 11 digs and eight assists. But it was Elliott, an All-Rookie Team selection a year ago, who held the Black Bears together with an impressive all-around performance. In addition to her 39 assists, she added nine kills without an attack error and eight digs out of the setter position.
UMaine couldn’t carry the momentum of its win over Army into its match with eventual champion and Big Sky Conference powerhouse Eastern Washington University. The Black Bears lost in three games, 30-18, 30-14, 30-13, to finish the tournament in third place and run its season record to 1-2.
Facing tough teams like Eastern Washington will no doubt give UMaine much needed resolve as the season progresses, and they were honored for some fine individual performances. Voss was selected to the All-Tournament team as the only Black Bear representative, and Elliott was named America East Setter of the Week for her efforts. Even with its 1-2 start, it’s still the best start to a season in the three years since UMaine’s return to Division I play.
“I feel like this is the best volleyball team we’ve ever assembled at the University of Maine,” Medley said. “I feel like the returners have worked really hard in the off season, and this year’s recruiting class is very strong. On paper we should be a much stronger team, but we have to go out there and do it.”
