The 2012 Dordt College volleyball season is nearing its end, and the Defender volleyball team stands near the top of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) holding an 8-1 conference record, with the potential regular season title up for grabs. This Saturday, the Defenders travel to Hastings, Nebraska, to take on the Broncos at Hastings College, who stand undefeated in conference play.

Dordt College has experience success throughout much of the regular season. Currently, the Defender women hold an 18-7 overall record with a 8-1 conference record.

“I am very pleased with how this season has progressed,” said women’s volleyball coach Chad Hanson. “It’s a neat spot to be in being 8-1 in the conference, but it’s also great that we have a healthy team. The girls come to each and every practice with a lot of desire and excitement to get better.”

Dordt dropped all three of its matches this past weekend in Columbia, Missouri, but Hanson is still pleased with a lot of things he sees in his girls in a come-from-behind set against Taylor in which the Defenders were down 24-21 in set one, only to come back and take the set 26-24.

“Heading into the season I knew that we needed this tournament to get us ready for the late season push,” Hanson said. “Obviously, winning a few matches would’ve been nice, but the girls learned how to play on a consistent level and they grew more as a team, which I think will help as we push towards the end of the regular season. They were also very competitive in every match.”

The Dordt College community can catch the Defender women in action this Friday evening, October 19, before their big match at Hastings on Saturday. As part of the upcoming Parent’s weekend festivities, the junior varsity squad will take on alumni on Defender volleyball at 5:45 p.m. Following the match, the varsity squad will host a non-conference match against Buena Vista.

Not only has the team put all their energy into a great performance this season, but the Defender crowds have shown their spirit as well. “The support for this season has been great,” Hanson said.

Jordan Harmelink, Staff Writer