The Journal

Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jamie Ford Sophomore Abby Williams sets the ball during the Sept. 19 game against Lincoln Christian College. The Gorloks swept the three-game series that night.

Webster University beat Lincoln Christian College on Sept. 19, winning the match in three games. The Gorloks remain undefeated in the conference and are tied with Greenville College for first place. The Gorloks easily controlled each game against LCC, keeping them below 20 points in two of the three games.

This has been a recurring theme in the conference matches for the Gorloks. As the matches continue, Webster's opponents score fewer points with each game that passes. This is a result of a specific plan Head Coach Merry Graf implemented for the team.

Before each game played, the Gorloks set a goal for themselves. They set a number of points they will keep their opponents below. As each game passes, that number drops lower and not coincidentally, the point totals in matches are reflecting these goals.

But the match against LCC wasn't the big story for the Gorloks this week. Instead, the fact that they did not have a varsity match scheduled for over a week loomed ahead. Of course, players need a break when the schedule gets demanding. Many times, a few days off allow players to return refreshed and ready for competition. On the other hand, countless times teams return from a break and lose their competitive edge.

This was the last thing Graf wanted to see happen to her team, and she wanted to make sure they would be as ready for their next match as they would any other. With every player on the team fighting for a starting spot, the team's practices are almost as intense as the matches.

"This week without any matches isn't going to be a problem," Graf said. "The (substitutes) on our team are really challenging our starters and that makes our practices very competitive."

Graf doesn't want to change the practice routine during the week off. The Gorloks compete in several different drills in each practice. These drills, combined with playing against one another in practice, should keep the competitive edge the Gorloks have created so far as sharp as it's always been.

The Gorloks are undefeated in conference right now and Graf doesn't see any reason to change anything that has been successful so far. Additionally, The JV squad had a match Sept. 20, giving subs another opportunity to get in playing time.

Webster has three more away matches before they play at home. The Gorloks will travel to Maryville University Sept. 27, for their next conference match. The team will then play MacMurray College and Blackburn College at Blackburn Sept. 29. They return to Grant Gymnasium for a home match Oct. 3 against local rival Fontbonne University.

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