by Caitlin F. McCarthy
Executive Staff
The Sewanee Tigers women’s volleyball team traveled to Birmingham-Southern College the weekend of August 29, ready for the season-opening tournament. As they stepped into Bill Battle Coliseum, the lady Tigers were ready to roar. Sadly this enthusiasm was not enough to capture a total victory, and Sewanee returned to the Mountain with a disheartening single win and three defeats.The tournament, MckAttack, started with matches between Sewanee and Mt. St. Joseph University. All three matches were extremely close, with Mt. St. Joseph pulling out a W with scores of 25-19, 25-22, and 25-23. Even this frustrating back and forth was unable to deter the highly tenacious team.
As the second set of matches began between Sewanee and Piedmont College, the Lady Tigers had amped up their intensity, ready to crush their opponents. In a devastating manner, Sewanee lost all three matches, 25-18, 25-23, and 25-22.The following day, the Tigers returned to the stadium, ready to take on the challenges Covenant College and LaGrange College were sure to present. The new day offered a rough start. The Tigers yearned for a win over regional rival, Covenant. However, the Lady Tigers simply could not compete against the aggressive Lady Scots and their remarkable attack. Outscored in every match, Sewanee lost with final scores of 25-13, 25-12, and 25-19.
Most teams would give up after three defeats in a row. Not the Sewanee Tigers. The team took the court against final opponent, LaGrange. With raw intensity, the Tigers proved themselves in the tournament with their incredible resilience and determination. As the ball soared over the net, back and forth, the Tigers kept after it relentlessly. By the end of the matches, the Tigers walked away proud, with a huge win and final scores of 25-11, 25-13, and 25-19.
Defensive specialist Sara Jayne Sutton (C’15) offered a closing remark to the Tigers’ tournament undertaking, “This past weekend in Birmingham was a great learning experience for our team. We learned what we need to work on and I’m excited for the rest of the season as we continue to grow.” The University of the South is likewise excited to support and cheer on this ever-improving team for the rest of the season. Be on the lookout for the Sewanee Tigers to host seven home games this month in the Juhan Gymnasium.