The St. Olaf Women's volleyball team is off to a promising start. After their play in the beginning of the year, the Ole's are now the team to beat in the MIAC.

St. Olaf opened their season with two tournaments, placing second and beating Washington University for the first time in Olaf history. In the second tourney the ladies took it all beating strong teams University of Wisconsin-Superior and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In the conference, the women went 2-0, beating Macalester in a tight match. Next the team went up against Augsburg College and defeated them in three games.

Coming into the season, the Olaf volleyball team has two very important goals. First, the players are concentrating on team cohesiveness, which so far has been strong. Looking ahead, the other major goal is to play for the MIAC championship. Although Olaf volleyball has shown great potential in the past, they have struggled to convert it into a title, but this year the team is looking to capitalize on its recent tear.

The team consists of a strong core group, including eight returners with freshman filling in the holes. These ladies have great team balance with three strong seniors (Molly Swenson, Jen Knudson, and Christina Moses) leading the team. The consistent setting of Brie Mattson in combination with Nicole Trnka's powerful play has ignited the women's team.

"We're a tight knit group and work well together," said Moses. This season the volleyball team is looking at the competition in a new light. They have become the ones to beat after their early success. The foundation for the women's success goes back to their great team chemistry, strong work ethic, and focus. Playing from this vantage point, the women's volleyball team will constantly be pressured to perform at a high level.

Ranking second in the region, the ladies have tough competition ahead. Their region is stacked with Macalester College, Saint Mary's University, the College of Saint Benedict and the University of St. Thomas all looking to knock them off. On the national scene, St. Olaf volleyball has made a name for itself ranking seventh in Division III with an 11-2 record. The team's only losses came in tournaments against rivals Central College and Elmhurst College.

"We're playing with a target on our back right now," stated Coach Cindy Book. This is an exciting time for St. Olaf volleyball, it looks like the season will be promising if the momentum of the team's early success continues.