St. Kate’s volleyball team “Battles Together” approaching MIAC competitions

Pictured above: The team celebrates a score against St. Ben's.

Parents, fans, and students packed The Butler Center Gymnasium on Wednesday, September 25, to support the St. Catherine University volleyball team in their match against close rival, The College of St. Benedict. St. Kate's and St. Ben's played five close and competitive sets, all to the uproar of excited fans and an enthusiastic cheer section. Although the Wildcats didn't take home a victory, the fans' enthusiasm and the athletes' sportsmanship could have convinced otherwise.

Last year St. Kate's volleyball finished 14-12 overall and 3-8 in the conference. This record prevented the team from qualifying for a playoff game in the MIAC tournament. Since then, the Wildcats have added six first-year students to the team. With so many new players, the team dynamic has shifted dramatically since last season. "Our team's chemistry has been outstanding and is an incredibly important reason for this season's successful start," said Head Coach Todd Nelson. "Everyone on the team is of the same mindset and working towards the same goals. I like the maturity of our group and how we are holding one another to a high standard. Everyone on the team has a voice, and everyone works hard to listen to one another." Much of this newfound camaraderie described by coach Nelson is a result of upperclassmen leadership. "We are communicating on and off the court in a manner that we never have before," said senior athlete Emma Nelson (Psychology ‘20). "With some of the experienced players back and the newbies eager to learn, we can discuss the game in more detail and pay attention to the little things needed to be successful."

The Wildcats are currently 10-8, with three upcoming away games and a home game against the University of St. Thomas on Saturday, October 12. The team will go head to head with local universities later in October. Matches against Macalester, Hamline, and Bethel will determine whether or not the Wildcats will play in the MIAC Tournament at the end of the season.

Although the team's current record is almost even, their recent close matches promise close competition with local teams later in the season. More important, though, is this team's emphasis on effort and teamwork. Reflecting on this, Coach Nelson said, "While our record is important, I believe how we are playing is of greater importance. When we are playing our best, I believe we can beat almost any team in the country. The key is that we play our best each match."

Nelson believes this team has the potential to put up a bigger fight than they have in the past. "We also are a resilient team [this year]. In past seasons we often found ourselves too far behind to catch up in matches, while this year, we are taking it upon ourselves to either get ahead or fight back to give us the best chance. I see the potential for our team to knock off some of the top contenders in the MIAC."

Junior athlete Erin Cutts (Public Health ‘21) agrees. "I feel like we have the potential to upset some solid teams in the upcoming matches. I hope to see us continue to fight to improve our skills every day in practice, and I hope that we don't settle for less than we know we can perform. The biggest thing I hope to see for the rest of the season is that we continue to play with a drive to compete at 100 percent," she said.

Looking ahead to local games, Cutts is hopeful that the Wildcats can make a name for themselves against other MIAC schools. "We've been competing at a higher level this season than we have in the past, which is exciting to see. We're playing at the same level as teams that we have struggled against in the past," said Cutts.

Coach Nelson's focus is on earning a place in the MIAC tournament. "I'm looking for our team to continue to build upon what we have accomplished, to continue to learn, and to continue to compete each time we step into the gym. I believe we can be among the top 6 teams in the conference. Our goal is to earn our spot in the MIAC Tournament at the end of the season. To do that, we need to focus on staying in the moment and staying together. Our mantra throughout the season has been "Battle Together," and I believe that we will continue doing that through the rest of season," said Nelson.

St. Kate's volleyball has the opportunity to bring significant competition to local schools. The team's camaraderie and leadership demonstrate a potential for success this year and moving forward. Support the Wildcats as they "battle together" against local rival, the University of St. Thomas, on Saturday, October 12 at 3 pm and Friday, October 25, at 7 pm against Hamline University. For more information on upcoming matches and the approaching tournament, visit the team's website at : https://www.stkatesathletics.com/index.aspx?path=wvball.