The volleyball team recently qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championships.
The Stars will advance to the NAIA volleyball championships after winning the opening round against Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas) April 17 at Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The Stars beat OLLU with scores of 25-20, 25-16 and 25-14.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, every team was required to play an opening round before qualifying for the championships in order to reduce the number of teams competing. The Stars will attend the tournament April 27-May 1 at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
OCU last advanced to the NAIA championships in 2019, ending their season with a 36-match winning streak at Abe Lemons Arena and 26 consecutive conference play victories.
Hannah Nicholson, criminal justice senior and right side/outside hitter, said the team was excited to qualify for nationals.
“I can’t ever describe the feeling,” Nicholson said. “It’s a different experience every time I’ve gone. It’s a blessing.”
Nicholson said she expected the team to advance.
“We did very well, and I always put faith in these girls to work their hardest and give everything, so I didn’t expect anything less,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson said she attributes the team’s success to their practice habits and strategies.
“We practice every day like how we’re going to play,” Nicholson said. “The way we go about things and the way we talk built the championship mindset into us. That’s how it’s been the last three years I’ve been at OCU.”
Nicholson said practices will remain the same while preparing for nationals.
“We’ll continue on what we’re doing,” Nicholson said. “We might add on here and there in order to be more prepared. Tiny tweaks can make us ten times better. There should not one spot we can specifically improve on. It’s every area.”
Nicholson said she has many great memories from the season.
“Every time our team does something good and we all cheer together are my favorite moments, just being with my girls and cheering.” Nicholson said. “We all lose our voices cheering for one another and getting so excited for one another.”
Nicholson said she has her sights set on the championship crown.
“I pray and hope that this year is ours,” Nicholson said.
Sophia Salak, biomedical science junior and setter, said the team always performs well within the SAC.
“We normally dominate our conference, which is what it takes to get to nationals,” Salak said. “We knew if we took care of our side of the court everything would be good and turn out in our favor.”
Salak said the team is working hard to gear up for the championships.
“One thing is limiting errors, which have hurt us a lot,” Salak said. “We play a lot of games against each other where we can only make six to seven errors a set. We also scout a lot more. Coach has done a good job watching film on teams we’re going to play and giving us solid reports. Then just us studying those and knowing the teams before we play them makes a huge difference.”
Salak said the team has good chemistry.
“We’ve been together for three years, and we had four wonderful freshmen come in,” Salak said. “We work so well together. We know each other. We know how to play with each other, and that makes everything so much easier.”
Salak said her favorite memory from the season occurred during the NAIA opening round.
“Hannah Nicholson got the game-winning kill against Lady of the Lake in the opening round,” Salak said. “That was her last game on the home court, and it was a good moment with chills, smiles, and happiness everywhere. I’m really proud of her, and she’s done more than she will ever know for me.”
Salak said she will be proud if the team advances farther in the championship tournament than previous years. “I really think if we take care of business we could win a national title,” Salak said.
UPDATE: The Stars ended their season April 27th after falling 22-25, 25-19, and 15-6 to Northwestern University (Iowa), and 25-18, 28-30, 25-14 and 25-15 to Corban University (Ore.).
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