Volleyball team looks forward to first GSC season

By Antonia Lopez

Sports Editor

Trevecca’s volleyball team started their first season as a part of the Gulf South Conference with a 3-8 record.

“We’re getting our nose punched a little bit here early, but I think it’s going to prep us to be competitive when it comes time to play our conference opponents,” said head coach Emily Moore.

The Lady Trojans lost the first four of their pre-conference matchups, but hope to continue to improve as conference play continues. The team has already played top ranked teams in the conference. 

“I think it’s just gonna be really fun coming in as kind of an underdog with these teams,” said Skias Hainline, a junior setter. “I think that’s really exciting for us to surprise them and to show what we’re made of and who we are.”

Moore has coached the Lady Trojans since 2018, and signed six freshmen to the roster this summer. This has been the most she has signed since her first year as head coach in 2019, where she also signed six freshmen to the roster. 

“I usually recruit heavily out of high school because I believe in training players within our program to become role models, to be impactful as they grow in their career,” said Moore. 

Hainline has been one of those players that she has trained, and is stepping into a new offensive role as setter for the Lady Trojans. 

“It’s been a lot more pressure placed on me, but it’s been fun,” said Hainline. “It’s something I’ve been working towards for two years, and now I’m getting that opportunity and trying to make the most of it and trying to work hard every single day.”

Lily Vanbebber, a freshman defensive specialist, has also become a key piece of the team’s defense so far. She was placed on the pre-season newcomer watchlist before the season began, and is now a part of the starting rotation for the Lady Trojans.

“It’s definitely an honor [to be starting as a freshman]. I’m just really trying to adjust, I don’t want to let this team down in any way, especially by inexperience,” said Vanbebber. “It’s just been my goal to gain that experience and knowledge quickly so that way I can really be an asset for this team.” 

Both Moore looks forward to the challenges a new conference brings, and has realistic but challenging expectations for the team’s first season. 

“A realistic goal for us is to make the tournament, to advance at least into the first or second round, and position ourselves to be in the top four in our conference at the end of the year,” said Moore.