It was the same story but a different day at Renaissance Coliseum for the Bradley volleyball team this weekend.
The Braves welcomed preseason favorite Wichita State for their Missouri Valley Conference opener Sept. 26, as they tried to secure their first victory not only in conference play, but on the whole season. Two days later, the Braves welcomed Missouri State on Sept. 28.
Unfortunately, coach Jenny Maurer and the depleted Braves are still searching for that sacred first win of the season after being swept in three straight sets by both the Shockers (20-25, 13-25, 17-25) and the Bears (15-25, 14-25, 14-25).
“We are approaching every single game the same, with a scouting report and how we want to approach each team,” Maurer said. “Right now, we are just not executing very well.”
The team continues to have a short bench as three of the Braves, including juniors Kristi Chynoweth (ankle) and Jessie Tulacka (shoulder) along with sophomore Kelsey Cave (back), continue to battle through injuries.
“We have to get some players back,” Maurer said. “Unfortunately, we don’t know when they will return, so we have to figure it out without those players, and so far we have not done that.”
With the Braves facing adversity with injuries, Maurer and her coaching staff have been forced to move players around. One of those players is sophomore Melissa Hoerber, who despite a move from a defensive specialist to the front line, has continued to be one of the team’s most consistent setters.
“{Hoerber] is doing what we are asking her to do, so I can’t complain about that,” Maurer said. “She has accepted that role and this is a team as a whole that needs to learn to play under adversity.”
Despite the Braves being swept in both matches, the play of senior Madison Kamp was something the team could focus on. Kamp recorded 18 kills and an attack percentage of .296 in playing in all six sets, which had Maurer pleased with her play.
“Madison is battling right now,” Maurer said. “She’s doing what a senior should be doing, but it’s not a one person team.”
With Kamp and many other players on the team battling through the adversity of the season, Maurer says there is another level her team can reach, but so far they have not.
“We have a chance to step up right now, and we are not doing that,” Maurer said.
The Braves will go back on the road to face Evansville University Oct.3 at 7 p.m. and to Carbondale, Illinois to face the Salukis of Southern Illinois University Oct. 4 at 3 p.m.
