Improving when it counts

Sting Women's Volleyball celebrate a late season victory at home.

Seneca Sting Women’s Volleyball battles back in season of redemption

Team improving with combination of chemistry and better defense

By: Aneela Khan, Seneca Student Sports Reporter

It was early November 2011 and the Seneca Sting Varsity Women’s Volleyball team was not performing well and was below the .500 mark.

It was beginning to look like it was going to be a second straight Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) season in which the squad would miss the playoffs.

That is, until they faced the La Cité Coyotes in a January road game. They won 3-0 and have not looked back since that victory. The reason why the team is on a hot streak can be attributed to better defence and better team chemistry. Seneca is also playing better because of the unified approach instilled by first-year women’s head coach Shane Timms. 

Timms has been coaching the men’s volleyball team for a number of seasons but this is his first as the bench boss of the women’s squad.

Sting Women’s Volleyball student-athletes were asked to share their viewpoints on why their team continues to win.

Power/right-side Kimberly Cedros, who currently studies Fashion Business, states that the confidence level in her team-mates has continued to rise and that their defense is helping them win games.

Cedros also happened to be named OCAA and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Player of the Week in the span of a month.

She is overjoyed with the award but is quick to share credit for it.

“I found out through Facebook. One of the men’s team players told me and I was actually really shocked and a little bit embarrassed because everyone kept saying to me congratulations and I had no idea what they were talking about,” said Cedros with a wry smile.

“It feels good to be recognized, but, it’s about the team and there’s going to be a lot more pressure because everyone’s going to go all out against our team and I have to bring my A game.” 

Setter Giulia DeGiorgio, a Liberal Arts student-athlete, notices her team’s effort has gone-up another notch when they play at home, in particular.
 

“It’s definitely more relaxing in your home gym. You’re used to the court and you know how far back you have to go to serve. It just makes it a lot easier and more comfortable and there’s an extra bit of drive because you want to win on your home court; home court advantage definitely makes a big difference.” 

DeGiorgio also mentions that the drive for the playoffs has made the team play better.

“We have gotten a bit better playing together and we were missing that drive and now it’s getting to the end. It’s almost playoff time and we just want it a little bit more than we did first semester.”

Seneca Middle Mariah Johnson, of Sarnia, who according to a rival OCAA coach is considered the best blocker in the East Region, strengthens her team’s ability to block and has also contributed greatly to her team’s improved play. 

Left-side Delia LeBlanc, currently studying Journalism, believes familiarity can partially account for the better results.

“We didn’t really know each other that well early in the season and as games have gone on, we’ve just started to click.”

With the team continuing to play well, the coach and the leaders of the team ultimately get noticed more for their efforts.

For the Seneca Sting Women’s Volleyball team, one of those leaders is setter DeGiorgio.  

According to her team-mates she does everything that a good leader does and more.

Her team-mates refer to her by the nickname “G”.  LeBlanc believes that “G’s” ability to communicate effectively is a huge bonus for the squad.

“Our team leader is G [Giulia]. She tells us, well more like yells at us about what to do and also tells us when we mess up.  But she means well.  We know that.”

Johnson believes it comes naturally.

“Well, she is a leader on the team as well as a playmaker. She also happens to motivate us pre-game, during the game and after the game.”

Cedros notices “G’s” presence and says her on-court performance is the best example for her mates.

“She definitely dominates on the court. She always knows what to say in the right way. She’s a playmaker. She works her butt off to give me a set, or someone else a set. She definitely controls the game as a setter.”

“G” is honoured by her team-mates’ remarks and appreciates the opportunity to be the leader.

“That’s the job of the setter. Telling the hitters what to run and where to go and the setter has to make sure that they know where everyone is in their rotations, and where the setter is and the sides, so it’s definitely a place on any team that the person is going to have a leadership role; whether it’s on the court or off the court; because they’re always on the court and then they’re the one that controls the play, so ultimately, it makes them become a leader.”  

Coach Timms also gets praise from his players.  Cedros crystallizes her team-mates’ views by explaining that Timms is the straw that stirs the drink.

“He clearly states what has to be done and I think we are all terrified of letting him down. We do what we can do to make sure that the job gets done.”

Team chemistry, improved defense and strong leadership are some of the reasons for the turnaround this season.  In order to have good team chemistry on the court, the players have to get along well off the court.

With any team, there has to be someone who serves as the comedian, the leader, the star, the Xs and Os maven.

LeBlanc, considered by most to be the aforementioned comedian, aims to keep things light and easy.

“She can be in the most serious conversations and still make you laugh. When the team’s down, she knows how to pick us up. She’s definitely great to have on the team and great to be around. 

She definitely lightens the mood and makes it easier,” says “G”.

One might argue that in recent memory, there has not been a Sting Women’s Volleyball team that clearly enjoy being with each other, both on and off the court, as much as the 2011-2012 unit.

The 2012 OCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship takes place at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario, February 23-25.  The Sting Women hope to make their mark and bring home a medal.  We wish them well in their pursuit.