The Griffon News

The Missouri Western Volleyball team is looking to get hot at the end of the season.

If you look at the Griffons’ schedule, you will see a streak of wins followed by a streak of losses. A season that started with six straight victories is now an 11-9 record. The mediocre season isn’t due to a lack of talent; it’s due to inconsistency.

“We play up and down,” Alyssa Berg, Junior, said. “Our team hasn’t met our expectations yet. We need to improve our consistency and everybody needs to play to their potential every night to win.”

Berg knows what it’s like to be on the sideline. She had to sit out because of injuries her first couple years at Missouri Western. This memory pushes her to play as hard as possible every night. Her positive attitude pulled her through her struggling time.

“It feels great to play,” Berg said. “I play harder than I ever did before, because now I know how it feels to sit out. I want to be on the court more than anything. I try my hardest at all times.”

Berg has plenty experience on the court, playing last year and this year.

Many changes were made to the volleyball team this year including a new head coach. Kyprian Harasymowycz took over as head coach this season and brought a new style.

“There is a big difference in the coaching style,” Berg said. “It’s completely opposite from last year.”

Along with a new coach, there are also new players that are getting used to college volleyball.

Madison Benton is a red shirted freshman and one of those new faces on the court. She brings her energy and hard work to the team.

“You don’t have time to stop working hard because other teams will pass you by,” Benton said.

This hard work is helping Benton adapt to college ball.

“The speed of the game is a lot faster than in high school. The girls hit a lot harder.” Benton’s recipe for success is hard work off the court and excitement on the court.

“I bring energy to our team,” Benton said. “I try to stay excited because I play better that way.”

Every player brings something different to the team, which helps bring the team together.

“We are playing together and working hard as a team,” Benton said.

The Griffons will need this togetherness as they go on a streak of road games. They have only two home games left and the next one will be Oct. 20, at 7:00 p.m., in the MWSU Fieldhouse.