The DePauw women's volleyball team is switching into high gear, preparing for the team's first regular season match on Sept. 1.
Currently, the squad includes nine first-year students, which is causing quite a bit of excitement from the coaching staff. Head coach Deb Zellers, who is entering into her 19th season, knew she had to recruit a large class with five players graduating last spring.
She got what she needed.
"Some might see this as a struggle or challenge, we see it as a fresh start with the freshmen," Zellers said. "But we're proud of our returning players as well."
Helping to lead the Tigers' freshmen class are the two first-year setters, Maggie Cochrane and Faith Rolwes. Because DePauw has no returning setters, one of the two freshmen will be filling the spot.
"It's a bit of pressure, but we need a setter," Rolwes said. "It's scary, but we have to do it. But it will be fun to lead the team and see where we can take it."
With the season opener only a week and a half away and scrimmages starting this weekend, there is a lot of pressure to bring the team together and build chemistry.
"We put in a lot of work in the off-season and the team got very involved," Zellers said. "But [bonding] is not a struggle, it's an opportunity."
The newness of the team does not stop with the players, however. Lauren Torvi was also hired since last season to be the new assistant coach. She was previously an All-American player at Springfield College.
Altogether, the team is meshing to become what will hopefully be another Tiger powerhouse on campus.
"[The team] is all striving for a common goal, together we're really motivated," Cochrane said.