By By Olson Barthelemy
It is difficult to determine whether the Pride volleyball team’s 2005 season should be labeled a success or a disappointment. On one hand, the team finished first in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), thus earning it the right to host the conference tournament. On the other hand, this was the same highly touted team that was swept in three games by Virginia Commonwealth University in the semifinals of the CAA Tournament. In the end, the Pride’s 2005 campaign boiled down to unfulfilled potential.
What cannot be disputed is that the Pride had an exceptional regular season. The team finished the season with an overall mark of 19-8 and 16-2 in the CAA. Despite being ranked as the top team in the preseason coaches’ poll, the road to the CAA Tournament did not begin smoothly for the highly touted Pride.
The team started the season going 2-4 through its first six games. Improving after a difficult start, the Pride was 7-6 before losing to William & Mary, which ended a three-game winning streak.
The loss to William & Mary would mark the Pride’s last defeat for over a month as the team proceeded to go on a torrid 10-game winning streak before losing to Towson University in five games on Nov. 4. The 10-match winning streak stands as the longest since 2000 when the Pride went on a 14-match run.
As impressive as the stat might appear, the real importance of winning 10 straight matches was the fact that the Pride catapulted to the top of the CAA. On the strength of an impressive 10-match stretch and by playing consistently after the streak ended, the Pride cemented its position at the top of the conference and was able to stay at that position for the remainder of the regular season.
The 2005 season would also serve as the last for senior outside hitter Tessa Sphar and defensive specialist Jessica Levy. Both Sphar and Levy were honored during “Senior Day” before the Pride’s final home match of the season against Delaware.
While Levy’s impact was made on the defensive side of the ball, Sphar’s name graces the Pride record books in both offensive and defensive categories. In a victory over Georgia State University on Oct. 21, Sphar joined some distinguished company, becoming only the fifth Pride player to record both 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
Sphar was one of the main energies behind the Pride’s strong 2005 season as is evident by the words of her coach, Fran Kalafer, after a win against George Mason,
“Tessa Sphar has been a driving force for us on the court. Her leadership and poise is inspiring,” Kalafer said.
Also greatly contributing to the Pride’s success in 2005 was sophomore setter Shellane Ogoshi. Despite being the smallest player on the court, Ogoshi managed to make the biggest differences, putting her teammates in the best position to win.
Just a year removed from her first season (a season that saw her win CAA Rookie of the year), Ogoshi was named the CAA Player of the Year amongst a number of other honors.
However, the story of the Pride’s 2005 season cannot be told without mentioning the ending. Unfortunately for the Pride, it was unable to translate its winning ways to the CAA Tournament. Along with hosting honors, the Pride, as well as No. 2 William & Mary, received first round byes. The Pride had the advantage of resting and watching as its two potential opponents fought each other.
Perhaps it all boils down to being beaten by a better team, but the Pride was shockingly swept by VCU, a team it had beaten twice in the regular season. VCU would go on to win the CAA Tournament, while the Pride was left wondering what could have been after such a promising season.