With its season complete, the Syracuse volleyball team can’t wait until next year.

Playing with a lineup of only three upperclassmen and six freshmen, the Orangewomen finished the season with a 19-12 record, 5-8 in conference play.

Though Syracuse failed to reach the four-team Big East tournament for the third consecutive season, SU coaches and players considered the season positive in that it will serve as a building block for next year.

‘For such a young team,” co-captain Christen Casey said, “we adapted really well and jelled so close together.’

The Orangewomen’s biggest problem was inconsistency. After starting 9-1, Syracuse lost five of its next six games entering the conference season. Casey said consistency will be key to improving SU’s conference record next year.

‘It will be a lot easier next year,’ Casey said. ‘With almost the same team chemistry, I will better know how to work with them as a leader.’

Casey played the entire season at libero, a designated defensive position new to NCAA women’s volleyball in 2002. The junior was named to three all-tournament teams early in the season and was named Most Valuable Player of the Syracuse Invitational.

Assistant coach Alexis Dankulic said the season was successful, noting the team improved during the conference season.

‘We played better,’ Dankulic said, ‘as the season wore on.’

Dankulic said the performance by the Orangewomen against conference elite Pittsburgh showed SU’s potential.

‘We just dominated against a highly-ranked team in the Big East,” Casey said. “We realized how good we could have been.’

But SU’s lone senior, Abby Van Mater, ended her career disappointed. Losses to Miami and Virginia Tech, both Big East tournament qualifiers, to end the season dropped Syracuse’s final conference record to three games below .500.

Van Mater said she was happy to finish her Syracuse career on a team with good chemistry. She believes she left a mark on a team that will continue to improve.

‘There were a lot of ups and downs this year,’ Van Mater said. ‘But there were also a lot of highlights. I’m glad I was there.’

Five Orangewomen freshmen frequently played throughout the year, perhaps giving a glimpse of a bright future.

Outside hitter Kristen Conway led the team in kills and established herself as one of the most consistent players on defense. She was named Big East Rookie of the Week twice during the season and is a strong candidate for the Big East All-Rookie Team.

Setters Kathryn Dercher and Aila Dommestrup each started several games after junior Michaela Skelly switched to a defensive role. Dommestrup set for most of the Big East season including victories over Pittsburgh and Boston College. Kelly Duan and Jessica Logan saw playing time in key situations throughout the season, adding kills to the Syracuse attack.

Sophomores Morgan Jones and Ashley Kimes added to the Orangewomen’s outside hitting that Notre Dame coach Debbie Brown called the strength of the Syracuse team.

‘None of (the freshmen),’ Dankulic said, ‘really played like freshmen this season.”

Dankulic said Syracuse may add a player to replace Van Mater in the middle, but next year’s team will not look much different. Few players might change positions, and the team will work during spring practice on improving the current lineup rather than worrying about new positions.

‘As long as everybody keeps improving,’ Dankulic said, ‘I’m excited for next year.’

Published on November 21, 2002 at 12:00 pm