BENNINGTON, Vt. – The Southern Vermont College women’s volleyball squad is looking to turn some heads and surprise teams around the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) in 2017 after missing out on the playoffs over the last two seasons.
The league announced the results of its preseason poll on Monday with the Mountaineers being selected to finish seventh in the league standings this year.
“I expect us to have a competitive attitude and to be mentally tough,” said first-year SVC head coach Pat Robidoux. “We will practice hard and embrace the mentality of ‘never giving up.’ Our concern—primarily—comes with being competitive with each other and pushing each other to be the best we can be. This conference is loaded with talented programs and great coaches, and we aim to be the best version of ourselves possible.”
The Mountaineers were 5-20 overall (0-8 NECC) last season with wins over Castleton University and Dean College—a new member of the NECC; SVC also defeated Elms College in a non-league matchup. This year’s schedule sees Southern Vermont take on quality non-conference opponents in September before heading into NECC action—a slate that will not include the top-two placing teams from a year ago (Regis College & Daniel Webster College).
“We are going to have to be mentally tough and compete with a purpose,” Robidoux said. “We feel as though the attitudes in the gym are very positive right now, and we are in a good place to start the year. A successful season is one where the coaches and players can look back and say that they regret nothing.”
Returning to the program is senior Julia Florence (Salem, Mass.) and sophomore Sarah Billow (South Glens Falls, N.Y.). Florence was third on the team last year with 12 total blocks while adding 26 kills and seven service aces to her season’s line. Billow was a two-time NECC Rookie of the Week and was second for SVC with 1.7 kills per set in 2016; she also tied for second on the team with 40 service aces over the course of the year.
“These returners are great players and awesome people,” Robidoux noted. “They are really running with the idea of changing the culture here and creating something that can be memorable. They have embraced the new players as family and are doing everything that we are asking them to do without any hesitation. I am very fortunate to be coaching such a great group of young ladies.”
Robidoux also welcomes eight new players to the program with class years ranging from freshmen to a senior and home states including New York, Connecticut, and California.
Southern Vermont begins the regular season this upcoming weekend with the New England College Tournament—SVC starting that event on Friday with a 6 p.m. first serve against the hosting Pilgrims. The Mountaineers’ home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, September 20 at 7 p.m. against Castleton, and the team then begins NECC play on October 3 at Becker College.
2017 NECC Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Lesley – 43 (2)
2. Newbury – 42 (5)
3. Becker – 29
4. Elms – 26
5. Bay Path – 25
6. Mitchell – 23
7. Southern Vermont – 8
(Parentheses denote first-place votes)
– #LetsGoSVC –