Winless streak stalls volleyball efforts

The Ottawa University volleyball team has gotten off to a 3-10 start through the first games of the 2009 season.

The Lady Brave won their first two games by scores of 3-0 and 3-1. After the fast start, the team began to slow down.

In the next few games, the team went on a winless stretch against the majority of its opponents.

Despite a big win against St. Mary in five games, the team has been halted in a winning stretch.

A good point for the Baker Invitational was the play of freshman outside hitter Kristen Hendrickson. With 46 kills for the weekend and two double- double performances, she earned a place on the All-Tournament team.

First year head coach Tom Symons has seen improvement in the team, despite the losses.

"We have been getting better," Symons said. "We have been playing tougher teams lately, and we're just trying to get over that hump."

Sophomore middle blocker Brittany Bush, a communications major, believes the next games are going to be more important.

"We want to win because now we're in conference play," Bush said. "Whenever we touch the court we want to get better."

The Lady Braves season has just begun and they are holding high expectations of themselves this season.

Freshman setter Chrissie Jeannin, an education major, believes the team is headed in the right direction.

"Our team this year is trying to be one of the top four teams in our conference," said Jeannin. "We are trying to work hard every day, take things one game at a time and learn from our mistakes."

With three freshmen and three sophomores starting, the team is fairly young Symons said, but that won't stifle how competitive they will be, now and in the future.

"We're going to get better and start challenging for conference championships," Symons said. "We're going to represent Ottawa athletics well."

The Lady Braves hit the road Wednesday to challenge Southwestern. This match is followed by a three game home stretch to wrap up the month.