The Stetson volleyball team got its 2022 season off to a spectacular start last weekend at Georgia Southern, sweeping all three matches at the Battle in the Boro Tournament.
 
The 3-0 start to the season, without dropping a single set, was great, but the Hatters know they can't relax just because they had a good first weekend. They have challenged themselves to use that experience as a springboard to get even better as they head to Boca Raton this weekend for the Florida Atlantic Owls Paradise Classic.
 
The Hatters will face Alcorn State (10 a.m.) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4:30 p.m.) on Friday before facing the host Owls on Saturday at noon. Friday's games will be broadcast over FloSports while Saturday's match will be broadcast on CUSA.TV.
 
Hatters coach Yang Deng said she was pleased with the way her squad came together during the first weekend, especially considering how little time they actually had to practice.
 
"In the spring and summer we didn't have everyone together to practice, but I was very optimistic about the improvement we made in the spring," Deng said. "At the same time, you always worry about how well a team will play together when it comes time for business. They did a good job of playing together last week. You could really see the connections they have made and the cohesiveness of the team. It was a really good group effort."
 
With four seniors on the roster, the Hatters have great leadership on the floor. Senior Alexis Thompson said she was a little worried going into that first weekend because the team had not yet clicked.
 
"We found our flow, which is what we have been looking for throughout the preseason," Thompson said. "It seemed like we just never clicked during the preseason but, when we got into the games, everything came together and we were able to find our flow."
 
That flow resulted in a dominating performance. The Hatters were really only challenged in their opening match against Georgia Southern. After jumping out to a lead over the host Eagles, Stetson saw that lead evaporate late in the opening set.
 
"In the past, when we have gotten pushed like we did in that first match, we didn't always fight back," Deng said. "This time, you could see the change in the way they fought back and made their opponents earn every point instead of giving points away. That shows the maturity of our upperclassmen."
 
Senior Kennedy Muldrow said some of the credit for the way the Hatters answered when challenged goes to the younger players on the squad.
 
"The younger players did great last week," Muldrow said. "Coming into games off the bench is really hard, but they were able to come in with great energy and were very consistent on the court. Everything just really worked for us last weekend, but we have to continue to push forward to get ready for the next weekend."
 
The tournament at FAU this weekend will be the second of four consecutive weekend tournaments for the Hatters before they move into ASUN conference play, opening with matches at Jacksonville and North Florida the weekend of Sept. 23-24. Getting those younger players plenty of opportunities to play leading up to league play is a priority.
 
"We have a lot of new players this year and I want them all to get a chance to play in these preseason tournaments so they can improve and be ready for the conference play," Deng said. "A team is only as strong as its weakest link, so we want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to get experience in these tournaments so they are ready for those moments when the team needs them."
 
The team veterans understand that every weekend won't be as easy as that first one, and the team still has plenty of room for improvement moving forward.
 
"We had a good first weekend but just because we played well last week doesn't mean anything this weekend," Thompson said. "We have to get back at it again to get ready to play by working 10 times harder this week."
 
Muldrow agreed that the effort in practice has to continue to be high.
 
"As soon as we finish one tournament, we have to get right back to work to get ready for the next one before we are on the road again," Muldrow said. "It is super critical for us to focus on the details and push forward off what we did last weekend."
 
The Hatters have a chance to do something no Stetson volleyball team has done since before 1980 and that is start a season with a 4-0 record. Just because the Hatters already own a victory over Alcorn State doesn't mean a second win is an automatic.
 
"The competition level should go up a little this weekend, but we have to make sure that we always respect our opponents," Deng said. "The past doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is living in the moment and then moving on to whatever is next."
 
If the team continues to play well, who knows what might lie ahead. Thompson said there is a difference this year the older players all could feel right away.
 
"Elena (Djokovic) and I talked about it on the court last weekend that we were having so much fun," Thompson said. "Even when the games were really tight, there was no tension for us. I am excited to see what this weekend holds."
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS. Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.