Tindall's Take: Hard Work Beats Talent When Talent Doesn't Work Hard

The Blockfest Club!

By Tindall Sewell

Dear readers,

Whether you’re cruising through the Davidson Wildcats’ website or an avid volleyball fan, I hope you will enjoy hearing about the volleyball team’s season this fall. My name is Tindall Sewell, and I am a junior middle blocker for the wildcats. Besides volleyball, I serve on the Honor Council, help lead the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and am a member of Warner Hall eating house. I hope you laugh at a few stories or enjoy learning about what the team is up to on and off the court this fall!

During this past spring, we worked hard with individuals and competitive tournaments. This quote resonates with our commitment to the spring practices, “The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare to win.” Now, it’s time to prove it on the court. Molly Crenshaw, a senior libero and captain, came back from her spring abroad with the Davidson in Peru program ready to jump back onto the court. Six new freshmen will add depth to our team, and I can’t wait to see them experience Davidson for the first time. I can remember the excitement of meeting new people during orientation but also feeling cool for knowing all of the athletes beforehand. Also, our new assistant coach, Emily Carrara, brings contagious energy and pure volleyball knowledge to the court everyday. We are so blessed to have them as Davidson Wildcats.

Our team walked into this preseason with a mindset- ALL IN. We have spent various meetings discussing this team’s vision and goals for the season. On the court, we have maintained a productive mindset to improve one another with a competitive team atmosphere. During our free time, the team has starred in a few music video remakes, “Call me maybe” and “Wagon Wheel.” Be sure to like us on facebook or retweet it (social media plug)! We went to Crossfit twice for a mix up of our lifting schedule and competed against each other with a high intensity level. Ice baths are our best friends during preseason! As a break from the routine practices, we went to my family’s lake house on Lake Rabun, Georgia. This retreat allows our team to mentally take a break from the court but still have a blast getting to know each other on a deeper level.

The volleyball team kicks off our first match against Gardner Webb on Tuesday, August 28th at 7pm. The sports marketing crew decided to promote this game with an 80s night theme so look out for our workout video or movie posters like “Set Anything” or “The Blockfest Club.” We have bought into getting better ever day in practice throughout this preseason, so I can’t wait for our hard work to pay off on the court.

Cheers to the end of preseason and the beginning of classes!

All in,

Tindall

Preseason

The five DCFH Seniors

By Sarah Fisher

The DCFH family reunited on August 9 to move into our homes for the academic year, sit in on meetings about the Athletic Training room rules, how to not violate the many NCAA rules, and a meeting introducing the 9 DCFH freshmen to our team and to our values: Commitment. Opportunity. Heart.

After completing a 12 week workout packet filled with a combination of long distance runs, long and short sprints, cross training workouts, and agilities, as well as the charge to play as much field hockey as possible over the summer , we each came in committed to working hard, learning lots, and, most importantly, we are committed to each other.

After graduating 8 seniors last season, 7 starting positions have opened up. This gives our program the opportunity to rethink our starting formation, have players try new positions, and the opportunity to shock our competition. While having 9 freshmen is certainly not a walk in the park it gives every returning player the opportunity to step up as leaders and demonstrate their knowledge of the collegiate game, understanding of Davidson’s campus layout, and the best ways to utilize your limited free time.

After 3 seasons filled with many injuries, team movie nights, road trips, locker room parties, and final scores, the 5 DCFH seniors reflect the heart of the our team. Being a varsity athlete at a top notch college is not an easy task. Our determination, drive, and will to succeed come from the heart. We endure challenges because we love the game and we love our team.

This year we will open our season at home against Georgetown and William and Mary. We have two weeks to get our act together and mold our team into a winning squad. We have to make a great deal a progress in this short time span, but I know it can be done. Each of us can improve and each of us will improve. We have a superb coaching staff who expects excellence in all that we done, we have experienced players willing to increase their responsibilities, and we have new players who are eager to learn. We spend long days on the turf being as efficient as possible because we know our time is valuable.

We want to win the NorPacs, we want to reach our potential, and we are willing to do the work that it takes to make that happen.

I’ll be sure to keep you updated as the season progresses.

Until next time,

Fish