Catawba Valley Community College, ranked No. 4 in the nation as it prepares to open the season Tuesday night at home, has six sophomores on this year’s roster./CVCC PHOTO
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Coming off a record-setting season, the Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) women’s volleyball program is focused on making even more history this season.
The Red Hawks finished a program-best fourth in the nation last fall under Shannon Hudson, who enters her ninth season as head coach.
The Red Hawks open the season Tuesday at 6 p.m., facing USC-Lancaster at the Tarlton Complex on campus.
“I think especially in the environment that we are in where we are a JUCO and you only have these players for two years, every year is a new year,” Hudson said in a CVCC press release. “Yes, we are so thankful for the success that we had last year.
“I think every year does build on one another. It’s kind of the environment you create, but you just have to treat each team like a new team because it is.”
Five sophomores return for the Red Hawks, including Hailey Tatu, Leslie Leonard, Sabrina Pinard, Mallory Bailey and Ramsey Fulmer.
“I think it’s really important for them to step up and take that leadership role,” Hudson said about her sophomores in the press release. “You kind of look to see who is going to step up, take the lead and be that person or those people that everyone looks up to and kind of follow.
“This year’s team, they really care about each other and work hard together. The team unity is great.
“I know the season hasn’t started yet and we haven’t experienced a big loss, but they are just a great group of girls who genuinely care about each other on and off the court. I feel like that translates to success on the court.”
Bailey, a Bandys High School grad, and Fulmer, who graduated from Smoky Mountain High, were recently voted to be team captains.
With 11 sophomores departing after last season, a group of eight young, yet talented freshmen will try to fill those voids.
“We are freshman heavy,” Hudson said in the release. “They’ve got to step up and kind of fill some big shoes.
“At the same time, I try to tell them that they are a new team. Don’t try to be like last year’s team. Create your own identity, work hard and see how far you guys can go together.
“Yes, we play off last year’s success, but at the same time, we let them know they are a different team. Be the team that we are and don’t try to be like anybody else.”
The Red Hawks’ motto for the season is “Win The Moment” – something Hudson and her players came up with during a recent team bonding trip to West Virginia and New York.
“We are trying not to look too far into the future, but rather on getting better every day and making that next pass, next set or next hit that’s going to make the big difference,” Hudson said. “That’s our main focus right now.
“I think it takes some of the pressure off. Sometimes you come in the first day and say ‘We’re going to win a national championship.’ It puts some much pressure on them, and when you lose that big game or you have that big injury, it just kind of takes some of the drive and focus away.
“If you kind of take a step back and say winning a national championship would be great and it is our goal, but let’s not look too far into the future.
“Let’s focus on our next game and let’s focus on what we need to do right now in practice to get better.”
CVCC’s schedule includes tournaments in Florida, Alabama and Ohio, and the Red Hawks will play No. 3 Owens in a match-up of top-five nationally-ranked programs (CVCC is No. 4 in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll.
“I love to going to Ohio at the beginning of the season because it’s a really good barometer of where we are and what we need to work on,” Hudson said. “It kind of puts a spotlight on your team and lets you know what went really well and what didn’t go so well.
“It’s just great to start off the season with that and be able to evaluate your team against some of those top-10 and top-20 teams in the country.”
As for her expectations for her team this fall, Hudson believes her player’s attitudes have helped to set the tone.
“I think the players who move into that sophomore role have kind of upped the expectations every year,” she said. “It’s not anything they are doing on purpose, but they are saying ‘This is where we were last year, so let’s take it one more step.’
“In the classroom, they work hard with study hall hours and on their progress reports. I’m finding that as a coach I’m having to stay on them less and less with every season that comes.
“It’s just some pressure off me because they are taking the responsibility on themselves. That’s nice to kind of see them step up and take the lead as far as what they are pushing each other to do.”
Roster: http://gocvcc.com/sports/wvball/2017-18/roster
Schedule: http://gocvcc.com/sports/wvball/2017-18/schedule