Huge weekend on tap for Volleyball

On one hand, this weekend means everything to Penn volleyball's season.

And yet it could also mean nothing.

If the Quakers fail to secure victories over Yale and Brown, their Ivy League championship hopes will likely diminish.

That is not to say, however, that the Red and Blue must win all of their remaining Ivy League matches.

"There is so much parity in the Ivy League this year," Penn coach Kerry Carr said. "Any team can win on any given night."

But if Penn volleyball wants to retain its status as the powerhouse of the Ancient Eight, the team cannot afford to lose to Brown (2-1) and certainly not to Yale (1-2).

After a potentially demoralizing loss to Cornell last weekend, the Quakers channeled their defeat into motivation to improve.

Defense was the focus for a Penn team that is ranked third best in Division I in digs (19.25 per game).

Scary thing, the defense may now be even better after a full week of practice.

"The girls [were] all really excited to start practice this week," Carr said. "We practiced hard so that we can use both perimeter and rotation defense."

Penn will interchange these defenses to stop the Bulldogs' strong middle attack and the Bears' two huge middles.

"Both teams are very young and talented," Carr said. "And so it is hard to predict how well they will play."

Though the Red and Blue have much room to improve on the attacking side of the ball, their strong play has been consistent.

While the team chemistry has contributed, individual players have shined and emerged as top players for both the Penn team and also in the Ivy League as well.

Among the Ancient Eight, freshman Cara Thomason ranks first in service aces with 2.48 per game, senior Elizabeth Watty first in digs with 4.0 per game, and junior Meghan Schloat second in assists with 11.67 per game.

Still these glossy stats haven't turned into an abundance of wins. The Quakers rank third overall in the Ivy League and are facing an uphill battle to repeat as champions.

"We need to play our best to win any match," Carr said. "Every match defines our position within the league.

"Everything is so critical."

While Penn views every match as a must-win, the faceoff with Brown this weekend is especially significant.

Because Penn and Brown tied for the Ivy League title last year, Penn must return the championship trophy to Brown this weekend for the remainder of the season.

With Yale ranked sixth in the Ivy League, it is a team Penn should be able to handle easily.

Still, winning two matches is not all that the Quakers want out of this weekend. They want to win decisively.

"We have all come together," Carr said. "We are looking to be totally dominant this weekend."

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