Volleyball

Author: Emma Gardner

The volleyball team will debut a new look this season as the women shift domains and take over the Bubble following a summer of extensive flood damage to Pepin Gymnasium. The players look ahead to a competitive season filled with NESCAC championship dreams and a goal of "staying in the top half of the league," according to Molly Elmer-Dewitt '10.

The team returns almost intact this fall, but will likely suffer from the loss one of its star players, Lexie Fisher '08.5, who ended her four-year career at Middlebury last fall with first-team All-NESCAC honors.

"Lexie was our strongest hitter, so our offense is really going to change while our defense remains consistent," said Elmer-Dewitt. Still, co-captains Lindsay Patterson '08.5 and Reisa Bloch '09 are sure to step up to the net and assert leadership over a changing set-up.

In particular, the Panther defense, a strength last year, should once again be very reliable. With libero Natalie DuPre '10 back anchoring the middle, and a stable of strong blockers to provide a good first line, Middlebury will rely on its defense to pick up the slack while their offense works out the early season kinks.

First-years Jane Handel '12 and Caroline Cordle '12 also enter the scene this fall, and bring with them plenty of young talent and enthusiasm. Their addition provides the perfect amount of new blood to an already talented and experienced team.

Head coach Sarah Raunecker will once again be guiding from the sidelines at the Panthers' Sept. 12 opener against Amherst. The Middlebury alumna continues a long career with the program, having served as assistant coach in the team's first-ever season in '93 and as head coach in the 14 seasons since then.