Women’s Volleyball started their season at home playing three games in less than 48 hours, but were quick to jump into the win column.
The team played Mary Baldwin on Friday, winning 3-1. On Saturday, the team picked up where they left off defeating Warren Wilson 3-1.
“I was proud of how our team gelled together this weekend,” Head Coach Shelbylynn Adair said. “We have a blend of newcomers, and veterans on the court. They balanced each other out well, and the upper classmen stepped up as leaders.”
The final game of the weekend was against Carolina University where volleyball received their first loss of the season 3-0.
“Carolina is a good matchup for us. They are competitive and play low error volleyball,” Adair said. “We know playing them will always be a tight game. We didn’t come up on top, but we were challenged to become better players with competition. As the season progresses, we intend to limit our errors and improve our team blocking.”
Adair was impressed with the student support opening weekend.
“We had tremendous support from the student body in both of the team’s wins,” Adair said. “Ferrum College stepped up and shared so much energy with our team. Swartz is an electric environment when it is filled. We take pride in our home court and work to give the crowd something to get excited about.”
Freshman Harleigh Propst was able to experience Swartz’s game atmosphere for the first time.
“I was a little nervous, but more excited about playing for the first time,” Propst said. “Some of the upperclassmen told me that playing at home was so much fun because everyone comes out to support the team, and you could feel the energy in the gym.”
Propst’s nervous excitement set her up with 25 assists across the team’s two wins.
“It’s important that you’re setting your hitters up for success. As a setter, it’s your job to run the offense and run the right plays based on who you’re playing, and giving your hitters the best chance at success,” Propst said. “Running the offense has been a challenge for me. You have to be thinking constantly about the game, and it keeps me on my toes, but I love doing it.”
Propst set her teammates up for success. Junior Jaycee Chaffin was one of them, racking up 36 kills over the three matches, with 14 against Mary Baldwin and another 11 in the win over Warren Wilson.
“I believe that volleyball is 100% a team sport, so getting kills is only possible when there is both a good pass and a good set,” Chaffin said. “In saying that, I couldn’t have gotten those kills without my teammates also giving their maximum effort and doing their part. I think that as long as we all work together on the court like we have been, these stats can be attainable for the remainder of the season.”
Chaffin’s twin sister Kenzee had an equally dominating performance this past weekend with 22 kills and 39 assists in three games.
“My number one job as a setter is to make sure I provide the attackers with the best opportunities possible in order to help them get the maximum number of kills,” Kenzee Chaffin said. “I feel that I always try my best to set them up for success by set placement, set timing, and communication. It’s always a team effort, and I feel like our team does a great job working well together.”
For her part, Adair said she worked to give the team what it needed in each moment.
“I try to maintain composure when I feel the team needs it but hype them up when they do something special,” Adair said. “They leave it all on the floor. It’s fun coaching a team so committed to putting in the work.”
Volleyball has more work to do this weekend at the Maroon Classic in Salem, VA.
The team will play two matches Friday and another two matches on Saturday.
“We compete in these tournaments for the opportunity to be challenged,” Adair said. “Playing tough matches helps us prepare for the intense ODAC schedule.”
But with two early wins and a positive overall record heading into this weekend, Adair believes in her group.
“We will compete,” Adair said. “We will play scrappy defense and low-error offense. We won’t stop playing until the whistle blows. This group will make you proud to be a Ferrum Panther.”
