The UConn women’s volleyball team play during the Dog Pound Challenge. The team claimed victory in all three games they played. Photos by Brandon Barzola / The Daily Campus.
UConn women’s volleyball returned home for the Dog Pound Challenge, in which they claimed victory in the three games they played. The Huskies redeemed themselves after a tough time on the road in the Ohio Invite. Being back home was the best way to end their nonconference schedule and build the Huskies’ confidence before entering conference play.
Caylee Parker has been a player that dominates her position and leads her team in fulfilling its desire to win.
“I love being back in front of the home crowd,” Parker said. “It brings the team together and fires the team up more, so it really helps bring that positive energy back into the gym.”
Being home creates an atmosphere like no other and provides the Huskies (6-6) with comfort. Genna Florig, who had an outstanding performance throughout the Dog Pound Challenge, claimed that the team can always rely on its fans, while freshman Jasmine Parker explained it as being a great feeling to see familiar faces.
Being back home provided fans with the ability to see the fight that the Huskies have in wanting to win.
“We changed the lineup and I think a lot of people stepped up in different positions,” head coach Ellen Herman-Kimball said. “Overall I think everybody made a conscious effort to really kind of pull together as individuals and cleaning up their game which obviously helps the team.”
A part of the lineup change includes the placement of Davis in the starting lineup.
“There is a lot of pressure, but the girls are so comforting,” Davis explained. “When I make a mistake they’re like it’s okay, you’re good, let’s just get back into this fight and that’s just so encouraging for me on the court.”
Fans are able to see Davis develop and will have three more seasons to do so. She’s been able to step up in crucial moments for her team. The first game in the challenge was against Holy Cross and was brought into a fifth set. Within the fifth set, Davis had a crucial kill that brought the team to 13-10 and kept the ball in their possession through the end. It’s moments like this that Kimball referred to when she said people stepped up in certain positions and certain times of the game.
Parker and Florig expressed the importance of taking on the games one point at a time. Florig further emphasized this point, saying, “Not letting one point if it goes badly negatively impact us and if it goes positively just keep going on that role and building on those points.”
Conference play will officially begin for the Huskies in their upcoming game against UCF and they will not return home until Oct. 6 when they play Tulane.
Hanaisha Lewis is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at hanaisha.lewis@uconn.edu.