Christen Casey remembers when it wasn’t so much fun to play volleyball at Syracuse.

‘My freshman year,’ Casey said, ‘it was just awful.’

That season some of her upperclass teammates wouldn’t even talk to her, Casey said.

Two years later, it couldn’t be more different.

‘This year, we all get along,’ Casey said. ‘It makes everything so much easier.’

This weekend when the Orangewomen (14-8) travel to Western New York to play Niagara (5-17) and Canisius (5-14), they will also take a team trip to Niagara Falls. The Orangewomen also traveled to Thousand Islands during preseason practice.

Syracuse goes into Sunday’s matches with an 8-0 record against non-conference, regional opponents. The road matches against the two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schools mark the last non-Big East games of the season.

‘This is a fun team,’ junior Michaela Skelly said. ‘This is the first year we enjoy to hang out as a team.’

With all six freshmen living in Shaw Hall, players often hang out in each other’s rooms and go out together at night, freshman Jessica Logan said.

‘We all have similar interests,’ Logan said. ‘We feel very comfortable as a group.’

Several Orangewomen commented about the bonding on the road, particularly when they get lost while driving. Casey and Skelly said their travel difficulties often center around coach Jing Pu.

‘Jing is classic on road trips,’ Casey said.

‘We always get lost,’ Skelly said. ‘Whether Jing is driving or we are on a bus, we just always get lost.’

On these long bus trips, the Orangewomen said their best conversations often come when they help freshman Kelly Duan learn English and adapt to American culture. Duan is a native of Baotou City, China, and attended Zhong Shan University last year.

Freshman Aila Dommestrup said that Duan teaches her teammates words and phrases in Chinese as often as they teach her English.

‘The language difference makes for a lot of interesting outcomes of conversation,’ Dommestrup said. ‘Kelly is really opening up to all of us a lot.”

Sophomores Ashley Kimes and Rachel Crooks agree that this year’s Orangewomen have bonded since the team came together in preseason practice.

‘Helping the freshmen adjust to college life brings all of us together,’ Kimes said. ‘That kind of bonding is required to have a winning team.’

Kimes and Crooks credit the leadership of captains Abby Van Mater and Casey for creating a relaxed atmosphere that makes playing for Syracuse enjoyable.

‘The upperclassmen are not dominating,” Kimes said. “They treat us as equals.’

Published on October 17, 2002 at 12:00 pm