VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball: Norwich On The Rise In Second Varsity Season

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - In just its second season as a varsity sport, the Norwich women's volleyball team is already improving by leaps and bounds, and folks around the Great Northeast Athletic Conference had better take notice. The Cadets, who struggled to win just nine matches a year ago, began the 2007 campaign by winning their first seven matches, and enter this week's match versus arch-rival Middlebury with a 7-1 overall record.

What's more is that the same team that won only two GNAC matches last year, is off to a 2-0 start in league play this season. What's even more is that one of Norwich's two conference victories came on the road over last year's GNAC champion Emmanuel.

Featuring 10 freshmen and four sophomores, the Cadets are a young team that has really come together early in the year. Coached by second-year head coach Amanda Cuiffo, the young team enjoys playing together as a unit.

Freshman Alicia Chamness is leading the way statistically for the Cadets, averaging 3.20 kills per game and 2.88 digs per game. Molly Rice, another first-year player, has stepped into the crucial role of setter on the team, and has done a marvelous job, averaging a team-best 6.55 assists per game.

Chamness believes that the team unity has helped influence the team's early-season success.

"All of the returnees on the team welcomed the group of freshman into the program with open arms," says Chamness. "We have really come together as a unit and I think that has helped us on the court."

Rice agrees with Chamness, although she was a little nervous at first.

"I thought it would be difficult to come in as a freshman at first," says Rice. "I was a little intimidated, but the girls have been great to play with and we've all come together both on and off the court."

The 7-0 start has helped breed confidence throughout the team, and beating Emmanuel was a statement victory for a program that is proving itself in the region and throughout the conference.

"We all played to our potential against Emmanuel," says Chamness. "We were tested by them, but we never panicked. We stayed positive and executed well enough to get the win."

In light of the promising start to the season, the team is confident that it can attain its goals of winning the GNAC.

"I think we want to go out there and show the other teams that we have a good team here at Norwich," says Chamness.

"If we can continue to stick together as a group and improve from game to game, I think we can accomplish great things this season and beyond," adds Rice.

With such a young roster, the future of the Norwich volleyball team is a very bright one. The talent and depth of the Cadets' roster will only strengthen in the coming years as Cuiffo continues to build the program. In other words, GNAC teams should take notice. There is new team in town, and it is improving quicker than anyone thought possible.