The Daly Dig
Oct 13, 2003 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The first two games against the University of South Florida Bulls on Saturday night were painful to watch, to play in, and probably even to read about. So what I want to write about is what happened after we lost the first two games, when we were sitting in the locker room with a 2-0 deficit hanging over our heads. I want to tell everyone about the attitude and heart our team possesses. We didn't give up. We didn't just call it a loss and start packing our bags. We came back and fought through a tough, five-game match and finished on top, beating USF for the first time since 1997.
Our team showed its true colors as competitors, though I knew we had it in us from all the little things I have witnessed all season long. It comes from teammates like Deva Fowler, who played through a stomach virus and still lead our team in kills against UAB and South Florida. It's from players like Kim Swafford and Lauren Jones-McClain who are both playing well despite pain in their strained back or bone-bruised foot. Our setters Katie Case and Kelli Dickson show their unbelievable work ethic everyday, coming in early and staying late after practice no matter how tired they might be.
I see the fight in Anastasia Kenon, who has come back from not one but two ACL surgeries in college to become a leading hitter on our team. I am sure everyone in the gym has heard the way Nitia Small can pump the team up with one of her sharp cross court kills and extremely loud cheers. Even our freshmen Dina Lossi and Sara Thorson have shown what an impact they can have on this team by working extremely hard right from the start. By making critical game-point serves and momentum building blocks, they have both provided skills and fresh enthusiasm to our team.
When it comes to enthusiasm, though, I think that Iman Houston may take the cake for getting our team pumped up with her unrestrained and animated pep talks. And last, but certainly not least, is Lindsey Norman who tirelessly stabilizes our team. I don't think most people realize or acknowledge the impact she has on almost every single aspect of our game.
It is these "little" things and much more that come together to give us the heart and determination that make us a team. We still have a long way to go before reaching all of our goals. A lot can happen with nine conference games left to play, but with a team like this one plus some more hard work, I am confident things will only keep improving.
