Volleyball Season Preview

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University volleyball team spent the 2023 season dealing with numerous injuries.

"To be able to have a full team practice, out of the 70 or so days, only about 30 of them were full practices," said Bears coach Tony daSilveira.

"Forty of them, we had to go light. Girls couldn't practice, they could only play the games.

"We kept a small roster and then it was just injury, injury, injury. We had a game with only six people. Last year, injury-wise, it was kind of tough. That was the worst I ever saw it."

BSU finished 4-13, including 2-5 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, and lost to Framingham State, 3-0, in the opener of the postseason tournament.

The Bears were slowed by injuries plus the fact that the roster included just two seniors and one junior.

A year later, the roster size has increased from 12 to 17 players, including 11 returners to go with six freshmen.

Unlike last year, BSU made it through the preseason healthy and is ready to go with the season opener at hand. The Bears start the scheduled on Monday at noon, facing Anna Maria College at the Tinsley Center.

"The difference compared to last year is that right now, we're healthy," said daSilveira, now in his sixth year. "The vibe in the gym is completely different. It's as if everybody really wants to be not just playing volleyball but be with each other. It's made practices a lot of fun, and at the same time, practices have been extremely competitive. They keep caring about each other.

"I think, as a team, we're a lot better, especially if we're healthy. The first three days last year, someone got hurt every day. We have options this year if someone gets injured.

"This is the healthiest and biggest roster we've had going. Last year at one point, I had three passers in the front row playing against taller hitters. That was brutal."

Among the returning players are sophomore Lilly Misay (New Bedford, Mass.), who was third in the MASCAC in service aces per set, and graduate student Bethany Votta (Cumberland, R.I.), who was third in assists per set and fourth in service aces per set in the conference.

They are joined by senior middle hitter Abigal Reardon (Fairhaven, Mass.), junior outside hitter Meaghan Coutu (Brookline, N.H.) and sophomore middle hitter Lily Welch (Hanson, Mass.).

Junior outside hitter Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) is back after suffering an early-season injury a year ago.

"With her back, it'll be a big difference for us," said daSilveira. "She's a big difference. We just couldn't produce on the side she's on last season."

Freshman Charlotte Sullivan (Hyannis, Mass.), a middle hitter, was on the Barnstable High team that finished second in the state last season. Another first-year player is setter Natalie Fredriksen (Plymouth, Mass.).

BSU has 10 non-conference matches before opening the MASCAC season at Framingham State on Oct. 1.

"I'm excited," said daSilveira. "Everyone can get the ball at any time. We have a bunch of really good hitters. We're pretty evenly spread.

"The difference from last year is we should be able to produce more from our outside hitting position. We should be strong in the serving department and hopefully the mindset of the defense picks up, too."