Major's alma mater defeats Volleyball

Penn volleyball coach Kerry Major lost to her alma mater, Wiiliam & Mary, in her coaching debut as a Quaker. Perhaps Penn (0-2) would have fared better at last Saturday's High IQ Classic in Williamsburg, Va., if it were actually the intelligence quotient that was being tested. In fact, the Quakers traveled to the College of William &Mary; for a three-team volleyball tournament, and while they may not have returned with results that warrant an invitation to join the volleyball world's equivalent of MENSA, the team's game IQ certainly shot up. Showing a superior communication and teamwork that comes with three extra weeks of practice, host William & Mary (2-4) and George Washington University (4-2) shut out the Red and Blue 3-0 in their respective five-game matches. In accordance with Ivy League regulations, Penn did not start practice until August 26, whereas the Tribe and the Colonials have been practicing and playing together since the first week of August. The two matches played last Friday and Saturday were the first the Quakers played all season and while there were some bright spots and surprises, the lack of game experience was telling. "The first game against William & Mary was where our lack of experience really showed," coach Kerry Major, who played at W&M; before coaching professionally, said. "Our concentration was wavering. We would go on runs for five or six points but they would always catch up and stay in the game. And when you play a better opponent and have a chance to win but keep letting them stay in it, they will beat you." After losing the first game to the Tribe, the Quakers changed setters and outside hitters and found more stability in the second game. Freshman Stephanie Horan made an impressive debut with eight kills in the second game and was named to the All-Tournament Team. The Quakers led most of the way but were unable to hold on to a 10-6 lead before giving up the final nine points in a 15-10 loss. "We definitely found our chemistry in the second game with W&M;," senior co-captain Katy Stock said. "But our lack of concentration near the end hurt our passing badly. I was impressed by the way Stephanie and [freshman] Kelly [Szczerba] handled the pressure of their first college match." Against the Colonials on Saturday, Penn found itself slightly more overmatched than in it was against W&M.; Despite sophomore Amy Schutte's 12 assists and senior Sue Sabatino's five kills, the Quakers lost three straight games once again. "George Washington is twice as good as W&M.; It was a little discouraging because we would be playing well and they were beating us at that level," Major said. "The thing I was happiest about is that we continued to play much better defense on Saturday after starting poorly on Friday in the first game." Major has not yet settled on a starting lineup for the season but she started all returning players in the first game against W&M; and then changed the lineup for the second and third game. "[Major] talked to [co-captain] K.C. [Potter] and me about lineup changes, but at this point, everyone will see quite a bit of time so coach can look at different combinations," Stock said. The Quakers will see their next action on Friday when they host Lafayette at 7 p.m. at the Palestra. "[Assistant coach] Orlin Jespersen and I are very good at analyzing film and finding where we can attack teams. We will probably be looking at tapes on Monday and Tuesday," Major said. With an already potent attack and an improved volleyball IQ after last weekend's trip to Virginia, it is very possible that the Quakers will give Major her first win at Penn on Friday against the 0-7 Leopards.