With a target on their back Kean Women’s Volleyball look to defend their crown
By Craig Epstein | Published by Oct. 2, 2018
Read story below gallery.
Coming off of a magical 2017 season where they went 28-11 and posted a perfect 8-0 record against NJAC competition, the Kean women’s volleyball team goes into the year as the defending NJAC champions for the first time since 2002.
“During preseason I tried to make the point to the team that we aren’t defending the NJAC, nobody is taking that trophy away,” said Head Coach Don Perkins. “It is a new year and we are back at the bottom of the mountain with everyone else, but this time with the confidence that we know we can win the conference, and of course this time with the target on our backs.”
Thanks to his team’s incredible 2017 season, Perkins became the first coach in Kean’s athletic department history to capture a conference championship and make the NCAA tournament with two different programs.
“Opening the NJAC with the win over Montclair, who was picked to finish third, shows that we are on track and if we can stay healthy and focused it could be another great season,” the reigning NJAC Coach of the Year said.
Although they lost three key players from the 2017 team due to graduation, one of which included former captain and all-time blocks leader Sara Ridgway, the Cougars were selected to finish first in the preseason coaches’ poll with five first place votes, beating out teams like Stockton who received three and Montclair State who got one.
As difficult a task it would be to try and replicate players like Ridgway, All-NJAC second-team selection Joelle Tondi, and former setter Kendall Sonico, Perkins’ squad welcomes in newcomers like right side/opposite hitter Cailyn Ross, middle hitter Sophia Barilla, and libero/defensive specialist Amanda DeLio. They also return three All-NJAC selections, including first team selection Vikki Stec, as well as second team selection Jesse Larkin and honorable mention Brianna Calvano.
Larkin is aware of the type of pressure her team faces coming into the season, but she is confident that they can both meet and exceed them.
“Coming into this season as NJAC champions brings a lot of weight on our shoulders,” Larkin said. “But we believe we’ll go even farther this year.”
Being named the NJAC Player of the Week recently, Larkin feels it is an accolade that should be shared amongst her entire team.
“Being named player of the week is an amazing feeling and I believe this award is a huge honor for our entire team because we all contributed,” the middle hitter said. “My teammate Brianna Calvano received this award last week, so it just shows the depth our team has and how far we have come.”
With aspirations of repeating as NJAC champions for the first time since they won three in a row back in the 1993-95 seasons, Perkins is aware of just how rare and special this type of an achievement would be.
“Most college athletes are never going to win one championship,” Perkins said. “So for the players who are back, who have the opportunity to try and repeat, this is a challenge and an opportunity that most people never have.”
Being a coach for over 16 years, Perkins is aware of the trials and tribulations his team is going to face. Instead of ignoring it, he feels that it is best to embrace it and let it contribute to the joy of the season.
“We are going to get everyone’s best shot so embrace the challenge, and enjoy every step of the journey this season,” Perkins said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.