When the 2013 volleyball season ended last November, the Braves were faced with the fact that they were losing four seniors who led the team in most statistical categories.
But sitting in the wing were three incoming freshmen. Each bring a long list of high school and AAU accomplishments to the Hilltop, who would also be able to learn and watch from a Braves team that would be coming off a Missouri Valley Conference tournament berth for the first time since 2005.
Enter the freshmen class of 2014: Jamie Livaudais, from Fenton, Missouri, Afton Sobasky from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota and Taylor Thiele from Aurora, Nebraska.
So far, this season is not exactly what everyone had in mind for the Bradley volleyball team.
Entering this weekend, the team is winless (0-12) so far. However, with the injuries and other factors that have occurred this season, this group of freshmen are getting playing time and doing the most with it.
“We definitely did not expect to be playing as much as I am when the season started,” Sobasky said. “But no matter when we play or how much we play, everyone tries to maintain focus and not think that we’re just freshmen, so our confidence stays up no matter the situation.”
The trio of freshmen are now the ones leading the team in most statistical categories, including Thiele and Livaudais in kills with 127 and 93 respectively, while Sobasky’s 344 assists and now rank eighth in the MVC.
As the group of freshmen continue to grow as players off the court and leading the team with their play on the court, the pressures of being a college athlete and filling in for injured teammates is not getting to them one bit.
“It is sometimes intimidating when you’re out there, especially with everything that we are going through,” Livaudais said. “But, our team does a great job of helping us calm down and come together as a team and not worry about what class anyone is in.”
As for that pesky first win the team is looking for? Going through the process of getting better, as players and as a team, comes before winning in on the minds of each of the three freshmen.
“It would be nice to get that first win,” Thiele said. “But as long as we are making strides and getting better, that is all that matters right now.”
Sobasky said she agrees with her teammate.
“Right now our record is not where we want it to be,” Sobasky said. “But, we are focusing on the process [rather] than the results, so I’d rather be playing tough teams and learning from that than losing.”
So yes, at the end of the day, a team is judged by their wins and losses. But, one thing is clear: all three agree that during their time on the Hilltop, they want the volleyball program to continue to improve and move up the MVC standings to one day win the conference tournament title.
