Success is like a butterfly. If it is held to tightly it could be crushed by the weight of expectations. However, if it is held to loosely, it could fly away.
Still, the Setters Women’s Volleyball team should be able to build on to last season’s success in the 2012 campaign.
The Setters finished 2011 with an overall record of 20-11-0 with a conference record of 10-5. The Setters went to the playoffs with the #6 seed in the Northeast-10 Conference. However, Pace lost to the #3 Adelphi Panthers three sets to none in their only postseason match.
The Senior Setters will once again be asked to shoulder the load. However, with two members making the first and second NE-10 Conference Teams that load should weigh less than a feather.
2011 was a year in which Senior Biology Major Elyse Rowland filled up her award shelf. Rowland was named to the NE-10 All-Conference First Team, and was named the NE-10 Libero of the Year. The Antioch native was also named to the Daktronics East Region First team, and was a Daktronics Third Team All-American. Last season, Rowland totaled 607 digs, 57 assists, 47 service aces, and six kills on the year.
Another upperclassman who should make an impact for the Setters is Senior Education Major Nora Rugova. The Mount Kisco native was named to the NE-10 All-Conference Second Team after putting up 374 total points in 2011. Rugova tallied up 327 kills, 297 digs, 38 serving aces, 24 assists, 4 blocks, and lead the team in points last season.
While Rowland and Rugova had the individual accolades, they were only two cogs that made the Setters go in 2011. The Setters were ranked 6 in the NE-10 with a total of 1,187 assists last season. Also, Pace had a total of 11.52 assists per set; only New Haven, Stonehill, and Adelphi averaged more assists per set in the NE-10 last season.
Perhaps the biggest weakness for the Setters in 2011 was their lack of blocked shots. The team leader in blocked shots per set last season was Tamilee Webb. She managed just .53 blocks per set in 2011; which ranked her #31 in the conference.
Fortunately for the Setters, Webb ranked #7 in the NE-10 with a .253 hitting percentage.
The Setters will be set for action come August 31 when they take on the Tars of Rollins College.