Volleyball ready to defend despite early injuries

A conference record of 33-3, 55-15 overall, 779.5 winning percentage, two Southern Conference Tournament appearances, one win, and one NCAA Tournament appearance. You might look at these statistics and think, wow, Bobby Cremins has really guided our basketball team to some successful seasons.  But we’re not talking about Coach Cremins and the men’s basketball team; we are talking about Head Coach Jason Kepner and the College of Charleston women’s volleyball team. 
Kepner took over in 2007 and has continued former Coach Shelly Dunbar’s streak of three consecutive Southern Conference Championship appearances. Kepner brought a winning approach with him from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was an assistant coach. 
During his five-year tenure at Pitt, Kepner was a vital component in helping the Panthers amass a 106-48 record. While winning is nothing new to Kepner, neither is it to the Lady Cougars volleyball team, and the combination has made Kepner’s transition at C of C natural.
The 2009 Cougars look to build on the success of a 2008 team that consisted of a 17-1 conference record, 27-7 overall, and a number one seed in the Southern Conference Tournament.  After being upset by Furman in the championship game the ladies come into 2009 hungry to regain their crown atop the SoCon, where previous to 2008 they spent the past four years. 
Injuries have hammered the 2009 season so far.
“I’ve yet to put the same lineup on the floor more than once,” Kepner said.
The injuries have limited the ladies to a 4-8 record.  Add in a tough non-conference schedule against opponents like South Carolina, Clemson, Duke and Cincinnati and you might start feel sympathetic for the team. 
But with the history of this program and the enthusiasm and leadership evident in each player on the court, sympathy is the last thing the Cougars need.  
With conference play on the horizon and the Cougars hosting Alumni Weekend against Wofford and Furman Oct. 3 and 4, the team appears to have not lost an ounce of confidence despite their injuries and early season losses.
The Cougars’ Southern Conference foes might look at C of C and think the ladies are going through a transition season.  But it’s a matter of players getting healthy.
“Once [they are] healthy it will have helped to play good competition,” Kepner said. 
The ladies look to continue their SoCon dominance when they face Georgia Southern Oct. 10 and travel to Davidson Oct. 11.