The Bowdoin Women's Volleyball Team seeks to continue a strong season with a home match Saturday against traditional NESCAC foes Bates and Colby. Bowdoin faces Bates at 11:00 a.m. and then squares off against the Mules at 4:00 p.m. at Morell Gym.
If the great competition is not enough of a draw, the Women's Volleyball NESCAC Weekend will also feature a free t-shirt promotion. Audience serving contests will precede both of the Bowdoin home matches. Anyone who can serve the ball over the net and hit one of several targets will win a free Bowdoin Volleyball t-shirt.
Bowdoin has an 11-12 record so far this season, as of Wednesday. Fourth-year head coach Kellie Bearman entered the season with a 29-62 career record and led the team to a NESCAC berth las year.
Julie Calareso '07 leads the team in kills and service aces this year, with 235 and 38 respectively, after leading the team in these categories as a first year. Calareso broke the school record last year in aces, posting 72. Junior Erika Michel ranks second on the team with 159 kills this season.
The young and talented Polar Bears are led in experience by juniors Sarita Fu, Michel, Ellie Simon, and Kelly Bougere. Other sophomores looking to impact the team on the court are Nina Durchfort, Erin Prifogle, and Jessica Brooks.
A great recruiting effort yielded excellent first-year players who have already made a notable impact on the team. Margo Linton '08 has earned the position of the team's primary setter, averaging 9.34 assists per game and 607 overall on the season. Kristen Lee '08 has excelled as a defensive player, leading the team with 245 digs this season, slightly more than Calareso and Michel. Other first years already showing flashes in limited playing time this season are outside hitter Lyndsey Colburn and middle Jess Liu.
Aided by experience and great young players, the team begins its stretch run on Saturday at the Women's Volleyball NESCAC Weekend, held in Morrell Gym. The NESCAC games this weekend will prove to be crucial for all teams involved; a key victory this week could likely lock up a playoff spot, as the playoffs will be held in the upcoming weeks. Help the Bowdoin women become one of those teams this weekend. Come cheer your hard-working women's varsity volleyball team on to victory against rivals Bates and Colby (and don't forget to come for the free t-shirts!).