By Mac Moore
Volleyball
The Lady Cavs volleyball team will enter this season ranked sixth in the D-II preseason poll. A tough 2012 schedule left the Cavalier volleyball team with a lot of bruises, it also gave the returning players solid experience to carry into this season.
“The three returning players we have are very strong leaders,” Assistant Coach Rogert said. “Bethany (Farres), Lori (Angello) and Preecy (Seever) have great leadership qualities and all bring a little something different to the court. They are 3 key pieces to our championship puzzle.”
Solving that championship puzzle is the objective. Last year’s team finished the season 28-6 but the team lost two of its last three matches to eventual DII National Runner-up Cowley Community College. The accomplishments of their season were a reminder that they could have achieved more.
“Last season we played a really tough schedule. At times we showed glimpses of a championship team, but were unable to put it together when it counted.” Coach Rogert said.
The squad will get some tough tests during the regular season. The team faces 10 ranked opponents, five of which they face twice during the year. Early into practices, Coach Rogert felt that the team’s high level of chemistry gives them a chance to do something.
“Now we need to turn that chemistry into a competitive dominating team. We expect to be at the national tournament competing for the title.”
Women’s Soccer
After injuries hampered the Lady Cavs 2012 campaign, women’s soccer coach Jim Schwab hopes to improve their 13-8-1 record. Schwab aimed at recruiting more physical players going into this season.
“We fell short of our potential due to injury,” Coach Schwab said. “We ended up losing to Butler in the semifinal, depth was definitely an issue at the end there.”
Coach Schwab already feels that this year’s roster is a more athletic and more physical unit. The team is also hoping to start out the season strong with leadership and experience with six returning sophomores on the roster.
“We are looking at a leadership by committee. Whether it’s (Christianna) Tran or (Janay) Stone or Carysn Beard, we have a lot of strong players. Even with the freshman, Katie Metscher, she scored two goals for us in the first game, she could have had six.”
The team felt like they could have accomplished more last year, but they weren’t disappointed in their effort.
“How they rallied towards the end of the season, after the injuries. They never folded up the tent, they just kept on playing.”
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team finished 11-8 last season. The team retains five players from last season. The squad also picked up a transfer student from Independence CC, Brian Caracomo. Coach Fatai Ayoade feels that the team final record was not a true barometer of their capabilities.
“We lost in the Regional final but I thought we could have done better. Injuries were a factor.”
This year the team hopes to improve by winning their Region and competing at Nationals. The team will look to sophomore Jake Walter for scoring, he had the second most goals for the team last season. Coach Ayoade expects this teams leadership to come from the traditional places
“Looking to leadership from our sophomores, Aguilar, Walter, Shupe, Wagenbaur, Wusterfeld.”
Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.