Crammed into a 15 passenger St. Olaf van, the Women's Volleyball Team, traveling to a tournament at Wheaton College in Ill., was well on its way to establishing its first goal of the season: team cohesiveness.

Sophomore setter, Brie Mattson thought that the team had already accomplished its first objective. "We have that great cohesiveness," she said, "We're a real close team." In fact, with a solid core of eight returning players, building team unity is four years in the making.

However, they have one more goal that looms large on the horizon: The MIAC Championship. "Our main goal is to win the MIAC," said sophomore Shannah Olson, a left side, "We have high hopes this year… we feel we have the potential to do a lot this year."

At the center of these expectations is junior captain Nicole Trnka, who just received the AVCA/Sports Imports National Player of the Week. Trnka, a middle blocker, is joined by senior captains Molly Swenson on the right side and Christina Moses on the left.

Other returning players include: senior Jenny Knudson, junior Katie Allenson, and sophomores Mattson, Olson, and Emily Ganzkow-Wold. First-year players on the squad are Andrea Cuff, Sarah Semmler, and Andrea Drapcho.

Fresh off of earning coach Cindy Book her 500th career victory, the team hasn't looked back. After going 2-1 in the tournament at Wheaton, the Ole women has started the year going 9-2 and found itself in a new position.

"We've gone from being chasers to being chased," stated Trnka, in reference to the teams quick start, "everybody plays us with the goal of knocking us off." Each game is so important to the team that Coach Book makes sure that they don't overlook any opponent.

"Our goal developed one step at a time," Trnka said about winning the MIAC, "for us to expect that goal, we can't look down the road now, but stay focused."

Book is definitely an integral part in keeping her team on track. "She is supportive, yet very focused," maintained Trnka, "she is highly motivated to get us to play at that high level of play, whether at practice or a match."

The two goals of the volleyball team are plastered on the wall in their locker room to serve as a reminder. While reaching the first goal was not too difficult, it is that team cohesiveness that will make it much easier for this teamto succeed at reaching the second, a MIAC title.