TRIBE SCRIBE: Senior class sets table for Tribe volleyball's progress
By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics

For William & Mary's volleyball team, this season has produced two significant "first time since" moments. Like winning six conference matches for the first time since 2013. And making the Colonial Athletic Association tournament for the first time since '15.

But the players aren't satisfied with that. In fact, with expectations higher than previous seasons, they believe the team's record should be better and its tournament seed higher than No. 7.

"The difference between the losses this year and the past three years is that this year, it hurts because we know we could have won," said libero Anna Porter, who leads the team in digs with 419. "The last couple of years, it was more 'these losses stink, I'm tired of losing.'

"This year, it feels more like 'Oh, we should have won that.' Our expectations are higher and we know we can beat these teams."

William & Mary (11-13, 6-10) will get a chance to prove that Thursday in the CAA quarterfinals against Hofstra (17-11, 14-2), the No. 2 seed, in Towson, Md.

Porter, opposite hitter Kaitlyn Ferguson and outside hitter Sydney Taylor are the three seniors from Tim Doyle's first recruiting class as the Tribe's head coach. W&M had finished 1-15 in the Colonial the season prior to their arrival.

"They're really a special class to me," Doyle said. "They took a chance on a first-time head coach who had just turned 30 and they were willing to believe in the vision we were trying to establish.
"We wanted to build something sustainable, so that meant building from the bottom up in terms of our team culture. They've been invested since day one, and now we're seeing the fruits of their labor."

The biggest step was establishing a culture. That word can be thrown around to the point that it becomes cliché. But it has been vital in turning this program around.

"You can say it, but it takes believing it and acting on it," said Taylor, who had a career-high 14 kills against Delaware on Nov. 5. "We had those conversations immediately when we got here, what it means to have a sisterhood and to sacrifice for your sister.

"Over time, we were constantly pushed and had to push each other. Especially being cut and then reinstated, you learn sisterhood and valuing your teammates. Those are things we learned and actually acted on."

Volleyball was one of seven sports announced for discontinuation on Sept. 3, 2020. Six weeks later, the university reinstated all seven. Ferguson, third on the team with 191 kills, believes the experience only strengthened the team bond.

"Not being certain where the program was headed made our sisterhood and culture intensify because we had all gone through something difficult together," she said. "Having gotten through that, we knew we would be better for it with our friendships off the court and our connection on the court."

Porter believes another key has been player accountability.

"I think the overall individual leadership is so much different than the past three years," she said. "Freshman year, it was very much like 'this is someone else's role and they'll bail us out.' This year it's so different because everyone is invested, and you can tell.

"I know in the future, it'll all come together. It's cool this year to see it start to come together."

Hofstra is one of two conference opponents William & Mary did not play in the regular season. The Pride's only two CAA losses came at Towson, the No. 1 seed, which has lost only one match all season.

"In CAA volleyball, anyone can beat anyone on any given day," Taylor said. "I don't think many people expect us to win the whole thing. What's really cool about that is you get to write your own story.

"All of us are really excited about it despite how good they are. I think we're just as good as anybody else in the tournament."

The confidence is there.

"Our seeding doesn't necessarily describe how good of a team we are," Ferguson said. "We're excited about being able to put that on the court this week. On our best day, I would take us against anybody."