Photo by Austin Drucker ‘17 | Photographer
According to the Lafayette volleyball team, it’s not time to panic, not yet at least.
Following two straight losses this past weekend to American University and Loyola Maryland, Lafayette finds itself backed into a corner amidst a pivotal stretch in the season.
Now 0-4 in Patriot League play after its torrid 8-2 start, tomorrow’s match against Bucknell will be crucial to either turning the corner, or continuing down a slide hauntingly similar to late last season.
Head Coach Terri Dadio Campbell maintains a positive outlook and insists the attitude in the locker room has not changed.
“Our mindset is actually more eager to get better,” Campbell said after practice on Wednesday. “The losses have exposed some of our weaknesses and have challenged us to respond in a positive way.”
One weakness, Campbell says, has been at the net.
“Net play has been the challenge for us so far,” the 11-year head coach said. “We’ve struggled reading the setter and securing our blocking responsibilities.”
Senior outside hitter Karissa Ciliento has continued to play well, registering 21 kills in the losses. To return to winning ways, her supporting cast will need to rise to the occasion and help their captain.
One member of that supporting cast is libero Lauren Pisauro ‘16. Pisauro leads the team with 166 digs, totaling 27 in both games last weekend.
It has now been six days since its last game and the team believes that the time away to diagnose its issues leaves them poised to right the ship and make a late season run.
In the end, Campbell and company knows all they can do is continue to get better. With the magnitude of games on the horizon, it will quickly be determined what type of ending this season has in store.
“Stay committed to what we do and disciplined in how we do it,” Campbell said. “[We need to] continue to work hard and we’ll have a process to build on.”
Lafayette will have one last chance to work out its issues before league play resumes at 6 p.m. today in Newark against NJIT.
