WOFFORD TEAM INCLUDES NINE TRUE FRESHMEN —
Midway into their 2014 season, the Wofford volleyball team is eight and ten with a one and one record in the Southern Conference. Coach Ron Sweet says that the makeup of the team means that it is possible that they could improve greatly this season.
“We have nine true freshmen and at times we are starting five freshmen,” says Sweet.
The freshmen class is talented but Sweet says the transition to the college game is hard at times.
“We’ve had ups and downs. We’ve had moments of brilliance and then at times we are bad,” says Sweet. “All of the women were superstars at the high school level, but in the [Division I] game the block is bigger and the game is faster. It takes a while for people to learn. There is definitely a learning curve.”
Despite this learning curve, the Terrier freshmen have been succeeding already. Three players have already won SoCon Freshman of the Week honors.
Molly Mayo was the first Terrier to win the award this year. Sweet says Mayo has been a big asset while playing a position which is hard for a first-year player to master.
“There is no spot harder to be in as a freshman than setter,” Sweet says of Mayo, “but she understands every play and has been running our offense well from the beginning.”
Freshman Bella Santoro won the award at the beginning of September after a great performance in the team’s win over the College of William & Mary. Sweet says Santoro has spent much of the season playing on a broken foot but has still been a key contributor.
Danni Densford won the award in mid-September after a week that included an 11-kill effort in the team’s match with Tennessee State.
“Danni has so much passion and is an incredible athlete,” says Sweet.
Sweet says that the first-years could do great things during their time at Wofford.
“I was talking to the coach who was here before me at practice,” says Sweet. “He says this is the best recruiting class Wofford has ever had. There is so much athleticism in this gym now.”
Senior Taylor Baird is the team captain and recently joined the list of Terriers with more than 1,000 career kills. Baird is the 11th Terrier to reach this milestone, and Sweet thinks Baird has a chance to go further.
“Baird could be the best hitter this school has ever seen,” Sweet says. “Also, she has done almost all of it in her junior and senior years. Her first two years, the offense wasn’t setting up for her.”
Currently, the all-time Wofford record is held by alumna Aman da Liguori, who has 1,264 kills – around 200 more than Baird.
Sweet is confident that once the team has had more time to help their young talent they will be capable of big wins.
“We are truly a team that is capable of anything. In the tournament I believe we could beat any team in the SoCon.”