After losing 3-1 Saturday against Maryland in College Park, Md., the volleyball team will take on the No. 13 Duke Blue Devils today at 7 p.m. in Reynolds Coliseum. Duke (10-3) is 5-0 in conference play this season.
Freshman Lauren Zaniboni said the team knows how good No. 13 Duke is.
“They have a good setter,” Zaniboni said. “They have some good hitters that we’re going to have to. They’re really tall, so we have to make sure that we hit high against their blocks and stuff like that.”
Though the Pack is 0-5 in conference play, coach Charita Stubbs said she is optimistic about her team’s play and feels the team is preparing well for its match against the Blue Devils
“We’ve been working on a lot of little things,” Stubbs said. “They’re mentally tougher, understanding mentally how the game is supposed to be played and holding themselves a little bit more accountable. I was very pleased with them today.”
As for how the team has been performing so far this season, freshman setter Alex Smith said the entire team has been stepping up its play, and the players are working on preparing mentally as well.
“We’ve been talking a lot about our mental focus in the game and preparing mentally,” Smith said.
Stubbs added that the team has stepped up as a whole.
“Everyone has stepped up their level of play,” Stubbs said. “Kasey [Harwell], my assistant, said that if we’ve been playing the way we’re playing now a month ago, we’d be in a totally different place. I’m pleased with the progress of the team.”