Bump, spike, win
Mary Margaret Ellison, Sports Editor
The NGU women’s volleyball team was ranked No. 5 in the preseason Conference Carolinas standings but quickly spiked their way to the top.
The North Greenville women’s volleyball has started their season after being cancelled halfway through because of COVID-19 with a dominating mindset.
The Lady Crusaders are currently 7-0 and ranked No. 1 in the Conference Carolinas standings.
Image courtesy of NGU Athletics
This has never happened in school history, and the drought has finally come to an end.
“It is a big milestone in our program, we are very excited to be in the top position,” said junior NGU volleyball player and captain Paige Beisecker.
This season, there is a glaring difference in the bonding and teamwork within this group of women.
Beisecker said, “The way that we have relationships off the court helps on the court because we understand how each other works.”
The players are a tight-knit group of women on and off the court. Many live together, eat together and do life with each other every day.
The Lady Crusaders have countless 5 a.m. workouts during the week. The hours of hard work and dedication is what assists in victorious matches.
Beisecker mentioned that as a team they have made intentional time to eliminate distractions and focus on their game without negative or outside thoughts getting in the way.
Image courtesy of NGU Athletics
One of the main reasons why the Crusaders are ace-ing their way through every conference team is because of the uplifting and humble attitudes on the court.
When a player is substituted, there is a player who can come in to fulfill that spot and get the job done.
The Lady Crusaders have a substantial amount of depth on their team with great talent.
Erin Allen, a junior NGU volleyball player speaks highly of the team as a whole, “We have so many people that can come off the bench and be difference makers.”
The women’s volleyball team has been crusading through each game because of the mentality that Coach Mosley has instilled in their minds.
Coach Mosley’s pep talk each practice and game consists of saying:
Until we beat a team, anyone can beat us.
Image courtesy of NGU Athletics
Most of the players who start each game have played together since their freshman season.
Allen said, “We have better chemistry than the past seasons, and we have worked so hard together to get to this position.”
Allen and Beisecker expressed that each player can feel the excitement alongside pressure to stay undefeated, so each day they work on fundamentals, skills and technique.
The team during practice plays against each other to keep each player fresh and ready to take the court when their time comes whether they start the game or take one’s place.
You can watch the undefeated Lady Crusaders in action here.
