Before most of campus returned for the semester, the Chargers were revving up for the fall athletic season. Boasting 10 consecutive trips to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament, the Women’s Volleyball team looks to continue their trend of excellence.
This will be the team’s 40th season at the University of New Haven. The Chargers are looking for their eighth Northeast-10 (NE-10) Conference title since joining nine years ago. UNH alum Robin Salters begins her 23rd season as head coach; she leads the program with 600 career victories.
For those unfamiliar with the dynamic sport of indoor volleyball, here are the basics – teams take turns serving the ball back a. After each serve, points are awarded based on if or where the ball hits the floor, or the team’s inability to return the ball in three or fewer hits. There are six players per team on the court and the first team to 25 wins the set. Games can be as short as three sets or as many as five sets depending who bests three out of the possible five sets.
Many do not know what to expect at their first varsity collegiate volleyball game, but end up thoroughly impressed. There is usually more shouting and drama than anticipated. There are so many elements that need to come together for a single play to work, and the team awareness within the Chargers is noticeable and very impressive.
Watching a game online or on television does not do these athletes justice, Olympic or otherwise. For university spirit, expanding one’s athletic knowledge or just the experience, it is highly recommended to going to a game.
In the Women’s Volleyball Preview, Senior Setter Annika Hacker states the team is “seeing players rise to their [true] potential” in competing with themselves.
The Chargers’ have prepared themselves for the fall season with beach conditioning, watching the Olympic tournament coverage and countless hours in the Charger Gymnasium.
This past weekend, the Chargers played a tournament at the Eckerd College Invitational in Florida. The Chargers faced Kentucky State winning three straight sets, tournament host Eckerd losing 0-3, Oklahoma Baptist losing 1-3 and University of North Carolina-Pembroke winning 3-0.
Despite emerging with equal wins and losses, the team’s last game against UNC Pembroke boasts their best game stats in the early season. The Chargers’ competed for the most kills in the tournament with 42, second to Oklahoma Baptist at 55. Their final tournament game also had 8 UNH service aces.
20 games remain in the regular season; their home opener is this Friday, September 9th at 7 p.m. in North Campus’ Charger Gymnasium against Queens College. Their following home game is Saturday, September 10 at 1 p.m. against Post University.
Check newhavenchargers.com for more information on Women’s Volleyball and the rest of Charger Athletics.
