After a disappointing 0-3 shutout loss to Marian University Thursday night, the Tigers put a hold on their coach's milestone celebration.
Claiming lackluster play and lack of focus on the court, DePauw (14-5, 5-0 NCAC) was determined to get back on course with one day's practice in preparation for Saturday's game against NCAC foe College of Wooster (13-5, 3-3 NCAC).
"Coming into the Marian game we knew that if we won it, it would be her 400th win," said senior Bri Holder of head coach Deb Zellers' approach of the milestone. "We weren't really focusing on it, but when we got close we started to think, ‘This is it, this is going to happen.'"
In the Tiger's best on-court performance of the season, according to Zellers, the team won the first set 25-12, the second 25-10 and the third 25-23, for Zellers' 400th career victory as head coach of the DePauw volleyball team.
"It's hard to believe I've been here for 18 years," Zellers said. "I just feel so blessed to be able to do a job that I love. I have so much pride in this university and what it stands for. I've coached phenomenal kids. You know those 400 wins don't boil down to you, it boils down to the great kids and staff in your program."
After the win, the Tiger players and Zellers' family took to the floor to celebrate the milestone. But it was the team's offensive performance on the court that spoke more to its potential season success.
"Our last match, we came out really flat, and that's one thing we really wanted to turn around," Holder said. "If you come out pumped up and enthusiastic, you are going to play that much better."
Of the 12 points scored by Wooster in the first game, six of them were service errors by the Tigers. Outside of those faults, the team performed at its highest level against a particularly strong opponent.
"We had an awareness about us, and the communication we had on the court was the best I've seen this season," Zellers said. "If we can bottle that, we can be a very dangerous team. We have the skills to do some high level play on the court, but it's those intangibles that can affect us the most."
The Tigers continued their dominant play in the second set, running out to a quick lead and forcing a timeout by Wooster. During the timeout, the team showed a different emotion on the floor: laughter.
"I said to them, because we were playing so well, ‘Do you have somewhere you have to go really quick after this match?'" Zellers said. "And it just kept the mood light.
We weren't disrespecting the other team or not taking things seriously. I wanted our team to have a feel good moment."
Wooster refocused after the timeout and the teams exchanged points until a scoring confusion halted the match. The scoreboard showed Wooster in the lead 18-15, but in reality, the team only led 17-16. The referee halted the match to sort out the issue, killing Wooster's momentum.
"Usually big breaks like that can kill a rally and stop momentum," Holder said. "Talking while we were waiting, we just said to keep up the energy overall, and it gave me time to refocus. We were more mentally tough after that, and we just took it to them after."
The Tigers went on to win the set and the final one, securing Zellers' 400th career victory and remaining undefeated in the NCAC.
DePauw travels to Wittenberg University today for another NCAC match starting at 7 p.m. Zellers said she hopes the team can build off its offensive production from Satuday.
Although she enjoys winning, what Zeller said she appreciates most in coaching is affecting her players' development both on and off the court.
"My favorite thing is to see a player of mine break through in an area of confidence or in maturity," Zellers said. "There are very few jobs where you can watch someone develop through their life and feel like you have a small hand in that. Those ‘aha' moments when you see a leader emerge or see someone step up and make a play with confidence, it's those moments of growths which are my favorites."