No Excuses; 2015-16 Lady Jayhawks Expect to Make it Back to Regional Tournament

Success on the hardwood has been a staple down at Jamestown Community College for quite some time, in large part, due to the routine dedication exhibited by the team’s head volleyball coach, Ashley Lund, and the entire Women’s Volleyball Program.

Over recent years, Lund and her teams have finished with some pretty impressive records, even managing to secure a couple of championships along the way.

This year, the goal is no different.

Despite losing all but three of her players to graduation for the upcoming 2015-16 women’s volleyball season, the 2014 WNYAC Coach of the Year and the Region III, Division III Coach of the Year makes no excuses: The Lady Jayhawks expect to make it back to the regional tournament.

“We lost pretty much everybody,” said Lund, as she rattled off a list of names that are no longer competing for the program “I have three girls coming back, but the majority of my team is gone; it’s a whole new team this year.”

Three familiar faces that will be returning to the lineup for the Lady Jayhawks this season, as sophomores, are Carly Abbate, Alexis Terrette and Kayce Abers, who according to their coach, have embraced the role of teaching their new teammates the ropes. “I’m happy with how the sophomores have kind of taken over, even though it’s such a big group of freshmen,” said Lund. “They’ve done a good job of instilling, ‘Hey, this is what it’s going to be like, and this is what you can expect.”

Needless to say, the sophomores will have plenty more on their plate this season.

One player in particular who is being asked to do more is former Panama Central School attendee and scholar-athlete, Carly Abbate.

“Carly is my setter; my one and only setter this season,” said Lund, as she commented on the significance of Carly’s newfound role. ”She is taking on a huge role and she knows that I expect a lot out of her; so far, she’s producing.”

Another player on Lund’s radar is former Randolph Central School standout, Alexis Terrette, who “is probably going to be back row someplace,” said Lund, speaking on Terrette’s versatility.

As for Kayce Abers, a former scholar-athlete at Pine Valley Central School, Lund hopes she can be molded into a middle player. “She’s been a little reluctant; it’s not a position she’s played before,” said Lund, “but I think she’ll be successful there.”

Surrounding the sophomores this season will be a rather talented group of freshmen, many of whom are quickly making a name for themselves in practice. Some players to watch out for this year are Hannah Vezina, a big, “surprisingly athletic” middle from Southwestern. Equally impressive has been Madison Alexander, a fierce competitor, who’s also from Southwestern. “She’s a big outside for me; she’s not big in height, but she’s big in just about everything else,” said Lund. Rounding out the crew of early standouts is Ashley Butman, an athlete Lund describes as “a good all around-player” who has done really well on the outside, as well as defensively.

“Everyone has their good points about them, whether it’s defense, offense or a combination,” said Lund. “I’m really excited about everyone, but those three in particular have really stood out to me.”

This Saturday, August 29, marks the start of the 2015-16 JCC Women’s Volleyball Season; the team will travel to Butler County Community College to get its first taste of tournament play. “I like that tournament a lot because there’s very comparable teams,” said Lund. “Butler is a great match for us…it’s just nice to get that out of the way before we start conference and regional play.”

With last year’s devastating loss to Top-Seeded Monroe Community College in the Region III, Division III tournament behind them, Lund and her “new” team have just one goal in mind: make it to Sunday and get that chance to play for a national title.

“My expectation is always regionals; I have nothing lower than that,” said Lund, explaining her motivation going into the season. “I know that I have the talent and I have girls that want to win… I think regionals is not an unfair expectation at all.”

Devoid of sophomore players or not, Ashley Lund and the JCC Women’s Volleyball team makes no excuses; the bar has been set.