The women’s volleyball team will battle its Ocean State rival the University of Rhode Island this weekend at the University of New Hampshire’s Holly Young Invitational. With a sweep of Providence College under their belts, the Bears could cement themselves as the state powerhouse after this weekend’s competition.
Last year, Bruno lost to URI. Outside hitter Emma Thygesen ’17 said that with this past record, the team is ready to “stick it to them.” The Atlantic 10 team will also come prepared with a strong 9-1 record, and last Saturday, the Rams swept Rutgers in three games.
URI is not the only team posing a threat to the Bears this weekend. Bruno will play New Hampshire Friday and New Mexico State Saturday. “All competition is going to be good competition,” Thygesen said.
New Hampshire comes into the games with a record below .500, going 4-8, but regardless of the numbers, the Wildcats held their own in a tight match against Ivy League rival Dartmouth.
Like the Wildcats, New Mexico State currently has a losing record, 3-5, but has proved itself on the court against competition such as North Dakota State University and Missouri State University.
“We have made some good strides this week,” said Head Coach Diane Short said, looking forward to these three match-ups.
The Bears had a full week of practice — a luxury they have not had in quite some time. It was “nice to get a rhythm this week,” Thygesen said. They took advantage of the practice time to focus on and improve their blocking, stressing what Coach Short said were some of the weaknesses from the last tournament.
With stronger intra-squad relationships and a better understanding of one another’s playing styles, the Bears are prepared to attack their competition at the Holly Young Invitational. “We are actually at a better place this year compared to last year,” Thygesen said.
Short also seemed confident. “I do feel this team has showed consistent effort, and what more can the coach ask for when teaching?”
ADVERTISEMENT
