by Daniel Jackson
Staff Writer
Bryan’s varsity volleyball team won its first two home matches last week facing Reinhardt College (Waleska, Ga.) on Tuesday and Union University (Jackson, Tenn.) on Friday.
With the victory over Union, Bryan is now tied for first place in the AAC with Milligan College (Milligan, Tenn.).
“It is our desire to win the championship,” said Head Coach Leo Sayles.
In the match against Reinhardt, Bryan won the first and second games. With the Lady Lions trailing Reinhardt 18-19 in the third game, Sayles called a timeout.
The team walked back on the court and evened the score at 19. Finally, the Lions managed to get two points ahead of Reinhardt. Needing one more point for the win, Lion fans stood in the bleachers, index fingers pointed to the sky.
“If I wasn’t a volleyball fan before coming to Bryan, the Lady Lions would have made me one,” said Kim Tuttle, resident director of Robinson hall.
Bryan won the last set 25-22, but Coach Sayles was not happy with the game.
“We were nervous at first,” said Sayles, “but we seemed to settle down as we played.”
According to Sayles, the team didn’t pass well, and they were missing their key passer, junior Courtney Cotter, due to an injury.
“It’s nerve wracking the first home game,” said freshman Chelsea Breaden. “You want to do really well.”
But it was the support from the fans that energized the team and propelled them to victory.
“It was a cool feeling to be supported by your friends, to know that Bryan has your back,” said freshman Rebecca Adams.
It was the match on Friday against Union which caused the varsity team concern. With one of its key players injured, the team worried about Union’s star setter, the best setter in the conference, according to Sayles.
Sayles has coached the volleyball team to anticipate out-of-system play, a play when the ball doesn’t go where expected.
According to Sayles, about 40 percent of a game is played out-of-system. Instead of scrambling for the ball, the team can improvise a play. This aided them in Friday’s game.
Union arrived without their star player. Having planned their strategy around this athlete, Bryan’s team quickly changed its game plan.
Throughout the match, the Lions controlled their side of the net, responding to most offenses from Union. Union, however, struggled to control the ball on its side. When they did manage to set up the ball, Union delivered a powerful spike.
The Lady Lions won two games. When the score was 21-14 in favor of Bryan in the third game, Sayles again called for a timeout. He told the team to “settle down, control your side of the court, and everything will be fine.”
Bryan won the final game 18-25, but Sayles is not enamored by the early success.
“It’s tougher to remain successful than to emerge as a successful team,” he said.
Bryan is scheduled to play Milligan College on Saturday, Sept. 25.