October 31, 2014
Two weeks ago, the Continentals made team history when they beat Trinity College for the first time in a conference match. This qualified them for the NESCAC quarterfinal, a first in the volleyball team’s 29-year history. The Trinity win was followed by a strong showing in the Hall of Fame Classic, hosted at Amherst and Smith Colleges, the following weekend.
In an incredibly close match of back-and-forth wins per set, the Continentals came out on top with a 15-13 victory in the fifth set against the Bantams on Oct. 18. This win followed a frustrating 2-3 loss to Wesleyan the previous evening, in which Hamilton lost the fifth set by only two points. Senior captain Anna Brown had 31 digs, and Kyndal Burdin ’18 notably had 41 assists and nine digs during the Trinity game. First-year Erin Donahue had a career best of 16 kills, and Jessica Weston ’17 added five blocks and six service aces.
In regards to the Trinity win after a loss to Wesleyan the previous night, Weston said, “We went into the fifth set knowing that we had to start out strong and get momentum quickly to finish the game to 15. We had a history of doing poorly in the fifth set in other games, but we were determined to win this time.”
Head Coach Erin Glaser noted that senior Erin Casey’s block on point 13 of 15 in the fifth set made a big difference in the team’s energy level finishing off the set. “The momentum of that block was important to finish the game for us,” Coach Glaser said. She described the way the team reacted after they won: “The whole team jumped out of their chairs screaming and rushed onto the court to hug each other. It was a great atmosphere.”
Emma Lonadier ’15 added, “Our game against Trinity this year had to be one of my most exciting matches of my volleyball career. Going into the fifth set after wining the fourth, our energy was incredibly high and we were ready to lay it all on the line to win.”
The team spent the following weekend in Massachusetts, where they played Bridgewater State, Westfield State and Wesleyan as part of the Hall of Fame Classic. The Continentals beat the first two teams 3-0, but lost to Wesleyan 0-3 at Smith College. When reflecting upon last weekend’s matches, Weston said, “We still need to work on our endurance and staying tough after an exhausting game, as I think that is what hindered us in the last game against Wesleyan.”
For Lonadier, the weekend was “an opportunity to face some great competition before our last week of season and NESCAC’s.” She added, “The team really took this past weekend as a chance to challenge ourselves and improve in preparation for the upcoming weeks.”
Part of what was so enjoyable about this non-conference play was the chance to have every team member play and contribute. Assistant Coach Lisa Lindberg said she enjoyed the fact that “we could experiment in the offensive lineup and defensive options that you wouldn’t normally get to do in a conference match.” She added that one of the team’s strengths is its deep bench, which allowed the coaches to seamlessly put in fresh legs throughout the matches.
This coming weekend marks the end of the regular season for the Continentals with two games against Tufts and Conn. College on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, respectively. The lowest they can place in the NESCAC tournament is 7th, but if they win one or both games this weekend they can finish even higher, which would allow them to advance more easily to the playoffs.
Coach Glaser said the greatest challenge the team faces going into the NESCAC Tournament is the newness of it. “You have to play in the moment and immediately begin to prepare for the next game if you win. That is a kind of mental strength where if you’re not used to experiencing it, it can be challenging.” However, she emphasized that the deepness of the team’s bench is its greatest strength. While it will be tiring to play several matches in the same weekend, she said, “The fact that any one of the girls could be ready to play is really a source of confidence for them and for us.”
In regards to preparing for the postseason, Weston said “We are hoping to beat both Conn. and Tufts this weekend to get the best seed possible in the NESCAC playoffs… This year we accomplished a huge goal by making it to NESCAC playoffs for the first time in the program’s history.” Based on the way the team has already taken to heart its coaches’ emphasis on communication, disciplined defense, and mental toughness, among other things, it is posed to continue its success into the postseason this year.
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