Not only did the volleyball team have an outstanding 2011 season, making it to the semifinals in the national tournament, but their performance in the 2011-2012 academic year earned them the scholarship cup, which was awarded to them at Fall Convocation.
“In order to remain a strong team we have to remain strong individuals, which starts in the classroom,” senior Lauren Grover said.
Head coach Chris Gravel said that the team does not necessarily focus on the scholarship cup, but that academic success is necessary for their athletic success.
“The better they do in the classroom, the better it is for the team,” he said.
Sophomore Bailey Lindner said good grades are part of being on the team.
“We want to do well in school, but it isn’t necessarily the scholarship cup that drives us,” she said. “This team really emphasizes representing our program well by striving to be the best in everything we do — on and off the court.”
Having such a high GPA is difficult for a Division II athlete, Gravel said, and it requires good time management. His athletes agreed.
“I think the biggest challenge is learning how to effectively manage the time that we have,” sophomore Bailey Lindner said. “With all of our athletic commitments, it can be difficult to find time to get all of our schoolwork done.”
Grover said that missing class and keeping up in those missed classes is another challenge that they face as student- athletes.
“Missing class and then trying to catch up; showing professors you care; communicating with your professors. It all adds work to the normal school schedule,” she said.
Sophomore Kat Carpenter said that she and her teammates take their studies very seriously and use their free time wisely on the road.
“We all bring our homework on the bus,” she said. “We have to make ourselves do work even when we don’t feel like it.”
And even when the team is not on the road, Lindner said she and her teammates try to maintain good study habits.
“I go to the library every weeknight so that I focus and work — even if there’s nothing due immediately,” she said. “I like to get in the habit of doing homework everyday, so that I never get too far behind in my classes.”
Gravel said they do not require study tables unless a minimum GPA is not met. At that point, the individual athlete must log so many hours in the Heritage Room in the library.
“The next step is our basement,” Gravel said.
“We can send our daughter to spy on them,” assistant coach Stephanie Gravel said, laughing.
But Gravel said that these required study tables are not very frequent, and if they are required, the athlete soon raises her GPA.
“They earn themselves into study tables, and they earn themselves out,” he said.
Carpenter said she thinks not having required study tables helps everyone find a way to study that best suits them.
“Each of us has different study habits,” she said. “So while it might help some of us, it might hurt others.”
Grover said the current sophomores greatly contributed to the scholarship cup even in their first year of school. Three of the four sophomores were homeschooled in high school, which Grover said was unusual for the team.
“Being homeschooled taught me to manage my time,” Lindner said. “I didn’t have daily assignments; everything was assigned as a long-term goal.”
Carpenter said that homeschooling also helped her have self-discipline.
“You do a lot of work on your own,” she said. “Getting into that habit of being accountable to yourself helps when you get into college.”
The volleyball team welcomed seven new freshmen this year. Gravel said the team will still be a strong candidate for the cup next year as several of the freshmen scored over 30 on the ACT.
“We train that we’re supposed to be the best in everything,” he said. “With seven freshmen you wouldn’t think we have much of a chance, but we do.”
