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By Reese Anzalone, AnzaloneR@Findlay.edu
A strong start to the season has set the tone for the University of Findlay Women’s Volleyball team this fall with a 13-4 record and second in the GMAC North division.
“We have had a really strong start to the season, currently sitting at 13-4 with three of our four losses being competitive to top 25 ranked teams,” Head Coach Wick Colchagoff said. “I think if we improve a little bit we will be in the top 25 by the end of the season.”
Some of the pivotal pieces to the Oilers are senior libero Ava Doster and sophomore outside hitter Hannah Miller. Miller is a staple of the Oilers offense, leading the team in kills and points with the second most kills-per-set in their conference. Miller says the dynamics have changed for her second year, but she has held her ground.
“I feel there is more pressure on me to do well because I have a year under my belt,” Miller said. “However, I have more confidence this year and I am super proud of myself to be atop the conference in kills.”
Doster holds down the defense leading the team in digs. Doster has been a four–year contributor to the Oilers and is looking to continue the success into the senior year.
“I know we can be successful the rest of the season as long as we all do our tasks and work together,” Doster said. “Not every game will go perfectly but as long as we step up for each other and work together I believe we can beat anybody.”
With it being her final season in the orange and black she wants nothing more than to go out with a bang.
“It definitely feels like it’s time to give it my all more than ever because it’s my last year playing,” Doster said. “This season I definitely feel an even greater push to succeed in the conference and I hope to get a ring at the end of the season.”
Getting the conference ring is the goal of the experienced team and Colchagoff believes they have all the pieces to get them there. He says the team is very experienced and this has prepared them to compete in big games.
“Being an older team has given us confidence to go perform to our best ability in the big games,” Colchagoff said. “Our expectations for the second half of the season and postseason are based on the experience that came back from last season.”
However, he did note two freshman newcomers, Grace Ayer and Stephanie Smith. Ayer has stepped into an outside hitter role and is hitting just under .300. Smith has played herself into the second outside spot and has 116 kills in the year, 12 of which came in a big game against Hillsdale College on Oct. 9.
Both Miller and Doster noted that their biggest win of the season came on the road at Indiana-Pennsylvania University on Sept. 22. The Oilers swept the Hawks 3-0 for a big road victory that may play a pivotal role in getting them an NCAA tournament bid.
With the season closing towards the end, the Oilers are looking to continue their success. They have Hillsdale circled on their schedule on Nov. 9 that could determine the number one seed in the GMAC. Winning the regular season conference title would make them the host of the GMAC tournament November 19-23. The winner of the conference would secure their spot in the NCAA tournament, checking off a spot they’ve been chasing since 2017 when they last won the GMAC title.
