Matt Schoultz has come to this fork in the road before, but this time the Lawrence University volleyball coach would like to take the other route.
The Vikings were in this same position back in 2009. Off to a 3-0 start in Midwest Conference play and facing a weekend road trip to Monmouth and Illinois College. The Vikings lost both of those matches in five sets and didn’t win another league match the rest of the season.
“We don’t want a repeat of that,” Schoultz said. “We have to focus even more and bring our best game.”
This team is vastly different than the 2009 squad, which was dominated by underclassmen. The Vikings are older, battle-tested and more talented from top to bottom.
“We’re playing more consistent, and I feel like we’ve gotten better each time we step into the gym. That’s been our goal since day one,” Schoultz said. “Hopefully, we’re peaking at the right time.”
After beating Carroll to open the conference season, the Vikings took care of business at home last weekend with a 3-1 victory over Grinnell and a 3-0 drubbing of Knox.
“The Grinnell match was close and the women fought through some tough points,” Schoultz said. “Again, our non-conference schedule really helped us prepare for some of the situations we were in.”
The Vikings have a difficult task this weekend because Monmouth is unbeaten (4-0) and atop the league with a half-game lead over Lawrence. Illinois College is holding down fourth place with a 3-2 league record. Factor in close to 15 hours on a bus this weekend with the road trip to southern Illinois and back, and sweeping a pair of matches becomes infinitely more problematic.
“That’s definitely our goal. If we can come home 5-0, we’re sitting pretty well to be in the (four-team) conference tournament. To be 5-0, that’s huge at that point,” Schoultz said.
“Monmouth is going to have it our for us. We ruined their undefeated season last year. They were 6-0 coming in last year and we took that away from them.”
To keep that conference record unblemished, the Vikings will need their stars to continue their impressive play.
Senior middle hitter Clare Bohrer, a three-time all-conference selection, and junior outside hitter Shannon McLain form Lawrence’s 1-2 punch. Bohrer leads the team with 167 kills (2.74 per set), and McLain is next with 166 (2.44 per set).
“Shannon has had a tremendous couple of weeks here. She’s been a huge offensive threat for us in the front row,” Schoultz said. “And Clare is playing as well has she’s played in her four years here.”
Directing the offense is sophomore setter Diane McLeod, who leads the conference at 9.12 assists per set.
“She runs our team,” Schoultz said. “We definitely would be a different team without her.”
Lawrence also is playing some of its best defense in recent memory. The Vikings are third in the league in blocks and fourth in digs. Teams are hitting only .157 against Lawrence. Libero Kathleen Rowland ranks third in the conference at 5.66 digs per set.
“Kathleen’s play in the back row has been tremendous,” Schoultz said. “She’s aggressive and fast and her defensive is unbelievable at times. We can force some teams into doing what they don’t want to do by playing good defense.”
Harriers at home
The Lawrence cross country teams are at home for the only time this season when they compete at the Gene Davis Invitational on Saturday at Reid Golf Course.
Lawrence is the defending team champion on the women’s side, and Vikings senior Emily Muhs also is the defending individual champion. On the men’s side, Lawrence sophomore Curran Carlile is the defending champion, and Carthage is back to defend its team title.
The first race begins at 10 a.m.
Passing fancy
The Lawrence football team put up some impressive passing numbers in its loss to Illinois College last Saturday.
Quarterback Luke Barthelmess passed for 443 yards, the third-highest game total in Lawrence history. Wide receiver Dominique Dirden caught three touchdown passes and became only the second freshman in Lawrence history to accomplish that feat. Appleton native Zach Michael did it first in 2000.
Burke wins again
Lawrence women’s soccer standout Cassie Burke has been named the Midwest Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
The junior goalkeeper made 13 saves in Lawrence’s scoreless double-overtime tie at Carroll last Saturday. It was Burke’s second shutout of the season and the sixth for her career.
Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a weekly notes package written by Lawrence University Sports Information Director Joe Vanden Acker. It will feature teams and individual players, recap weekly awards or highlights and take a look at what’s ahead for the Vikings.