Tuesday, February 25, 2014
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
Prior to Mark Hardaway’s arrival at Youngstown State University, the women’s volleyball program had suffered through 12 consecutive losing campaigns, winning just 20 of 164 Horizon League contests.
In just two years under his tutelage, Hardaway has guided the program to back-to-back winning seasons, posted 12 league wins and this past season led the team to its first non-losing Horizon League campaign since joining in 2001.
Addressing the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon at Luciano’s Banquet Center, Hardaway said that while everything is on track with his coaching plan, injuries this past season prevented his team from achieving its goal — advancing to the conference tournament championship.
“We had higher expectations than where we finished and that was due in part to injuries, which hurt us a good portion of the year,” Hardaway said. “Back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in over a decade was special, but we really felt like we belonged in the league championship game.”
The Penguins beat Wisconsin-Green Bay in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament, only to be eliminated for a second straight year by Valparaiso.
One of their goals at the beginning of the year was to defeat Cleveland State, Valparaiso and Wisconsin-Green Bay, something his senior group had never done.
The Penguins accomplished that goal by defeating all three teams, including Cleveland State twice.
“We played without Missy Hundelt, who tore her ACL in the second conference match of the year,” Hardaway said. “She was very talented and one of the best passers and defenders on the team.
“What we really missed, however, was her leadership role. She was our go-to gal that pulled things together and as a senior, had to finish her career watching from the bench.”
While Hardaway was happy with the season, he did note that putting a ring on their fingers by winning a conference title remains paramount.
Senior Jenna Cavanaugh was the Horizon League’s defensive player of the year. Hardaway said she has just finished trying out for the USA National Team in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“Jenna was the only player from the Horizon League to attend the tryouts,” Hardaway said. “The ultimate goal is to make the U.S. Olympic team and while it was a tall order for everyone at the camp, she’ll know how she fared in three or four weeks.
“She says she’s pretty sore but glad that she made the decision to try out.”
Joining Cavanaugh on the all-conference team was Lexi Egler, marking the first time that YSU placed two players on the Horizon League squad in the same season.
“We posted the most wins since joining the league and placed two players on the all-league team so it’s really hard to be disappointed in our season,” Hardaway said.