After having reached the OCAA quarterfinals each of the last four seasons, nationally ranked (13) Mountaineers women's volleyball aim to overcome that hump and compete provincially in the final four this year.
"We haven't figured out how to win that (quarterfinal) match," said head coach Matthew Schnarr.
With a mix of a veteran core and a handful of young athletes, Schnarr believes the expectations for the 2021/22 roster is to reach the conference final four and have the opportunity to compete for a provincial championship.
When asked about key contributors for the upcoming season, Schnarr responded that there are about 10 athletes that will be important to the team's success. Specifically, the Mountaineers will rely on veterans Amanda Kuiper (Woodstock, ON), Emily MacEachern (Thornhill, ON), Kaelyn Emslie (St. Catharines, ON) and Grace Mazur (Hamilton, ON).
"Those four athletes have been together for the past four seasons," Schnarr said. "They've spent four years together working hard at putting themselves and this program in a position to essentially chase history and make this a program that carries strong values, that responds to adversity and leads by example."
"I think all four of those athletes have done that work with me, they walked alongside me and they deserve an opportunity to play in that big match."
Schnarr added that the core will need to keep their head down, support each other, celebrate each other and ultimately leave it all on the floor, for themselves and for the jersey.
The Mountaineers had a successful preseason when they played to a 9-4 record. Schnarr credited that to the veterans and younger players competing on the same page by using each other's strengths.
"Our leadership has done a great job of leading by example and our young athletes have responded to the challenge of trying to get to the same place our vets are in – in terms of volleyball IQ, speaking the same language and competing in the OCAA and CCAA," Schnarr said.
Offensively, Schnarr says the team is at a level the program hasn't been at since the 2010 season.
"I think we've relied on the offensive side of the ball (during preseason), but if we're going to compete at the final four or final eight, we're going to have to marry our defensive intensity and execution to what I think is a solid offense," Schnarr said.
He did highlight the need for consistency from the teams left side.
"I don't think our left side played particularly poor (in exhibition)," the coach said. "I just think we can get a little bit more out of them in terms of ball control and offensive termination."
Mohawk will play a nine game, road heavy regular season beginning with the first three being played at opposing schools.
"I think we drew the short straw in terms of who we play on the road and who we play at home," Schnarr said, highlighting that the Mountaineers five away games are in some of the toughest opposing school venues. "We're going to have to have a strong road mentality."
The coach believes his veterans are ready to lead during a season that will be a "sprint while an all-out war at the same time."
"It's going to be an interesting six weeks - it's going to be taxing, it's going to be exhausting, but I think we're ready for it and I think our program and team is built for these types of challenges," Schnarr said. "I think we're a resilient group and I think we're a group that won't make excuses and find ways to get it done even when we were served the path we have in front of us."
Being ranked number 13 in the country to begin the season Schnarr says is flattering, but doesn't mean anything when there are no wins or losses.
"If anything it puts us on the map and we're going to have to respond every night with being the best version of ourselves – and not letting that ranking to certainly takeover our egos and certainly keeping it in check," Schnarr said. "We're still a program that hasn't been in a final four since 2010/2011."
Mountaineers open play this weekend on the road versus the Fanshawe Falcons on Feb. 12 and then the 7th ranked St. Clair Saints on Feb. 13. Both matches begin at 1 p.m.
It won't be until Feb. 19 when Mohawk plays its first home game of the season, hosting the number four ranked Humber Hawks.
At this time no spectators will be allowed for all Mountaineers home games. Every game will be streamed on the OCAA Live platform.
