One year ago, the Chatham University women’s volleyball team watched as Bethany College celebrated its Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) victory over the Cougars at the Athletic and Fitness Center.
The Cougars are using that feeling in hopes of winning its first PAC Championship in program history. Chatham finished the regular season with a 7-3 record in the PAC, following a 3-2 win against Thiel on Nov. 9. This record was good enough for the third seed in the PAC, and at least one guaranteed home playoff game.
“I think our sweep against Bethany last week, it really helped with team morale,” Becca Gesner ‘27 said. “Then the five-set win against Thiel. Going in with the momentum there, I think is going to be really crucial for us tonight.”
Tickets for the Nov. 12 PAC quarterfinal game against Thiel are free to students and $5 to all non-students. The first 100 students will receive a free t-shirt.
“I’m feeling really excited. We’ve been waiting a long time for this,” Alyssa Leskovac ‘25 said. “We have this big week coming up. So we’re really excited and we’re ready to play and win tonight.”
For fans attending the quarterfinal matchup who have never attended a women’s volleyball game before, Gesner believes they will be in for a great showing.
“They should expect a very competitive game and just really good energy,” she said. “The crowd kind of helps fuel us on the court too, so it’s kind of playing off of each other’s energy both ways. So it should be a really fun match and just a really good atmosphere to be in tonight.
While Chatham was picked to finish the season first in the PAC preseason poll, this finish is not a defeat for head coach Jason Bortak who had to replace several key players from last year’s team.
“We have some first-years who have been able to step into some bigger roles, and upperclassmen are leading in the right ways,” Bortak said. “So it’s just been a growing moment for us. But, we’re seeing the process start to take over.”
This growth on and off the court from the younger players is something Bortak finds the most promising.
“It’s been fun because you recruit the kids that you think come in and make an impact for you,” he said. “We’ve had high expectations for the recruits and for the team in general. But being able to see them come in and play, so those are some, some wide-eyed moments, but ultimately keep their head down, keep working, trust the process and the results are paying off.”
The women’s volleyball team hosted a homecoming game on Sept. 28 against Franciscan University early in its season at a packed Athletic and Fitness Center. The team believes they can use the teaching moments of playing in a high-energy environment to the feel of playing in the playoffs.
“It’s not just the X’s and O’s. It’s kind of adapting to the environment as well,” Bortak said. “Being able to play and, in front of a packed crowd, a loud crowd, the cheerleaders coming to support us, it’s a big motivator, and we appreciate the support.”
If the Cougars win tonight, the team will head to Saint Vincent College on Nov. 14 for a semi-final matchup against the Bearcats.
