Women's volleyball prepares for the fall

By Nicholas Pinkerton

Entering their fifth week of the spring season, the Santa Clara women's volleyball team is developing a solid roster for the fall.

"Winning is not our priority in the spring, but more so development, trying to accelerate the learning process of how to play the game and (its) positions," said Coach Jon Wallace.

With a record of 20-8 last season and a ninth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, the program is headed in the right direction, Wallace said.

Even though all but two graduating players will return to the team, Wallace believes he has a fresh set of players.

"I think one of the greatest things about college athletics is that every year you have a new team, no matter what," he said.

"People are different. They grow, they mature. Everything changes," he added.

Competing in tournaments and matches in the spring, the Broncos have been focusing on a new defensive scheme. The team wants to get comfortable with the more defined system.

"All of our feedback in the matches has been really about our defense and what we're trying to do and what we need to get done," said Wallace.

In addition, Wallace has been working with his outside hitters, Lindsy Evans, Nina Sevastopoulos and Lauryn Dowd.

"I think they're making some really good strides just attacking the ball," he said.

Along with the returning players, the Broncos will add three more women to the team -- two incoming freshmen and Erin Bragg, who graduated from high school early.

Bragg, the first early graduate the team has ever had, has been practicing with the team and playing in the scrimmages, said Wallace.

"She's a potential starter for us next year as a freshman," he said.

"It's a very unique situation," he continued. "It's not something that we pursue. It just happened."

When it comes to spring training, Wallace aims to develop a team with the best individual players possible.

"Our philosophy in spring is to make everyone as good as we can and then in the fall let them compete for starting spots," Wallace said.

"We've been working on building those younger players and older players into better leaders, and helping different skills that they have, and improving upon those skills," added captain Anna Cmaylo.

Entering his ninth season, Wallace has one objective in mind every year.

"We say our main goal that we want to accomplish is to win conference," he said.

Next-year seniors Anna Cmaylo, Crystal Matich and Caroline Walters will be leading the Broncos in their quest for a West Coast Conference title.

"Our three seniors are getting primed to have their best season ever," said Wallace.

Rather than study film and scouting reports, Wallace uses the spring season to develop his team by playing the game.

"I'm watching how our girls react and what we want them to do," he said.

With most of spring season over, the Broncos have strengthened individually and as a team.

"I think we've really gelled well and have more chemistry than we've ever had here in my four years," said captain Caroline Walters.

The Broncos, without Cmaylo, faced the Stanford Cardinal on Wednesday and were swept in four games.

Contact Nicholas Pinkerton at (408) 551-1918 or Npinkerton@scu.edu