By Melissa Barracato Staff writer
Susquehanna’s women’s volleyball team has started out yet another strong season, as they improved to 23-5 after this weekend’s Landmark Conference victories over Catholic and Goucher.
On Oct. 14 they defeated Penn. State-Altoona 3-0, the set finals at 25-13, 25-23, 25- 16, respectively. The River Hawks won both their matches on Oct. 15 in three sets as well.
Susquehanna topped Catholic in digs 52-40 and blocks 7-3. Against Goucher, Susquehanna tallied 45 digs to Goucher’s 41 and seven blocks to Goucher’s two.
The wins brought the team’s current win streak to six games.
This weekend’s success certainly reflects how the team has been performing throughout the entire season.
“We’ve had a few hiccups along the way where we think we could have done better in a couple of matches, but we’re doing ok,” Head Coach Tom Kuuipo said.
Part of the team’s strength lies within the freshman class.
“We found ourselves in a situation that we didn’t anticipate this year, being that we had such a big returning class,” Kuuipo said. “Some of these first-year kids are really making an impact. Their talent and skill level is good, and every day it gets better.”
According to Kuuipo, this year’s record is around the same as it has been in the last few years as the team has upheld a strong position near the top of the conference for the last several seasons.
“We’ve been dominant in the conference. It usually comes down to us and Juniata,” Kuuipo said.
Susquehanna has missed the Landmark championship match just three times over the last 10 years. The River Hawks have failed to get past Juniata each time they have reached the championship however.
The River Hawks made their mark in the conference this weekend with two wins against Catholic and Goucher,. The River Hawks also established themselves as the No. 2 seed for the upcoming Landmark Conference tournament.
“It’s always great to have a good outing in conference play. The team really came together and performed well,” senior middle hitter Leana Carvin said.
In the Landmark Conference standings Susquehanna trails Juniata, who has won the championship for the last nine seasons.
“I think we are going to do very well. It’s up to the team, and we’ll go as far as they want to take us,” Kuuipo said. “There are some very talented teams and they are loaded with some experienced players. We have a good group of seniors that are leading the way for the rest of the team,” he added.
“It is the second half of the season that demands the most focus and discipline,” Carvin added.
“We still have some really big games to play. Our goal is to continue to get better as a team and peak strongly in the second half of our season,” she said.
The Susquehanna volleyball team has a lot to be proud of this season, specifically the pivotal moment that occurred on Oct. 8 against SUNY Canton, when Kuuipo earned his 300th match win.
“The seniors this year were on the court and brought me my 200th win as well, and it’s not often that you see that,” he said. “It’s because of them that we’ve been so successful. They’ve created a culture that we’re going to be a championship team.”
The team was certainly proud of their coach and themselves as well. “It was a really proud moment for Coach Kuuipo,” Carvin said.
“It served as a moment of reflection of the past three and half years, and all the success this program has seen. It’s an awesome feeling to be a part of that success, and the team that made it happen,” she added.
Susquehanna will face the Coast Guard Academy at 6 p.m. and Stevens Institute of Technology at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21 at home.
The River Hawks will face non-conference opponents for the next two weeks, before hosting Catholic in a Landmark Conference semifinal match on Nov. 2.