Volleyball team’s successful season ends with high hopes

By Taylor Laskoski | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Even though the Flagler College volleyball team lost in the regional tournament for the second year in a row, senior Meg Weathersby said that doesn’t mean the team has given up.

“I think that it means that the Flagler volleyball program is strong and will continue to be competitive in the Peach Belt Conference,” she said.

The team finished 29-9 overall after losing to Wingate 0-3 on Nov. 21. The season is still considered a success, Coach Taylor Mott said.

“It is very special that we were able to accomplish winning the regular season and the conference tournament two years in a row,” Mott said. “We lost three key players last season, so to be able to have the success we have had is remarkable.”

By going to the regional tournament, it gives Flagler the national attention it rarely receives.

“It is an incredible feeling to be able to put Flagler on the map in the athletic world,” Weathersby, the teams outside hitter, said. “President Abare gives us constant reminders that we are doing great things for Flagler. It is very encouraging to have such a supportive president.”

Other than the support from Abare, the team said they don’t see much support from the rest of the faculty, or from the student body.

“Professor Voguit and his wife never miss a home game and they are great fans, but as for students, not many even know that we are still competing,” Weathersby said.

The team’s defensive specialist Jillian Unitas agreed with Weathersby.

“We haven’t noticed if the college has been rooting for us,” she said. “Besides the Athletic Department and the occasional professors and of course Dr. Abare, we feel like no one even knows what we are doing.”

But overall, Mott said that it takes consistently winning to make the school pay attention and it’s great that they receive any support at all.

“It is a huge confidence builder to know that your institution supports you,” Mott said. “Dr. Abare is usually one of the first people to congratulate us on each milestone as we progress through our season.  I don’t know too many college presidents that would take the time to e-mail the volleyball coach and congratulate him or her on a regular basis.”