The No. 5-ranked Indiana Wesleyan Volleyball team defeated Marion in four sets on Wednesday. This win secured their victory in the regular season championship as they now prepare for the crossroads tournament.
“It went really well. I mean, obviously, we went undefeated. I don’t even think we went five sets with anyone. So that was super encouraging,” junior Cadee Notter said.
The team is currently on a 25-game winning streak but has lost two of their games earlier in preseason. The team was 38-0 last season with a NAIA National Championship.
“I think it was good for us to feel that and bounce back from that,” senior Martina Demarchi said. “Get ready for the next game and just say it’s okay that you can still lose a game and still be good.”
As the team prepares for the rest of the season, they feel confident, having already played ranked teams such as Grace, Mount Vernon Nazarene, and Marion.
“I think that’s really good for us, at least going into nationals, just having already played some pretty good teams a couple of times and just comparing ourselves to them,” Notter said.
As the team prepares for the tournament, they are also trying to bounce back from team injuries.
“Our athletic trainer is saving us,” Demarchi said. “We’re still pushing through those injuries. It’s not taking anyone out, which is good, but just a lot of rehab time and prayers,” Demarchi said.
Even with the injuries, the team had some highlights from the conference that involved a lot of team bonding and growing stronger together, one of those being senior night for Demarchi.
“I would say one of my highs was at Grace. We swept them. I feel like it was one of our best games, and it was just really fun. We were playing really well together and just connecting all three sides,” Notter said.
The team is looking forward to going back to NAIA Nationals as they will get to play new teams.
“Just the ride there, the bus crew was just like so much fun. And playing other teams is definitely more fun and getting different competition. And just finished even the conference tournament strong,” Demarchi said.
Being last year’s NAIA National Champions, there comes pressure to make it back this year, but they do not let it stop them from playing their best.
“I think we do a good job of turning that pressure into motivation,” Notter said. “Letting it fire us up so that we can get there.”
The Wildcats face Taylor in the Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinals in Luckey Arena on Saturday, Nov. 9.
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