The Penn women's volleyball team never shies away from a challenge.
With their first Ivy League title in over 10 years under their belts and a squad of promising new recruits, today the Quakers begin the hunt for a repeat with added confidence.
The Red and Blue will travel to Washington for the Georgetown Invitational, where they will face a trio of talented opponents -- Valparaiso, Long Island University and Georgetown.
"We're not as well prepared as the other teams because of lack of practice, but we're definitely ready to get out there and play -- put some things to the test for the first time," Penn coach Kerry Carr said.
Georgetown promises to be the Quakers' most challenging adversary.
"They always either win the Big East or come in second," Carr said. "I'm looking forward to playing them, seeing if we can explore their weaknesses and go at them from a different angle."
The Quakers have never beaten the Hoyas, but they are showing no signs of intimidation.
"We're really excited to finally get out there. We all love that pressure," Carr said.
The squad will bring 15 players to the tournament, all of whom are expected to play according to Carr. The group includes four freshmen: Cara Thomason, Michelle Kauffman, Emily Puro and Ashley Smith.
"You might see some freshmen emerge," Carr said. "I'm hoping they put up some good numbers."
The Quakers have a very deep team this year, with returning starters Stacey Carter, Meghan Schloat, Lauren Carter and Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan all back in the quest for another championship.
The team plans to focus on their strengths to lead them to victory.
"We just need to be positive, pass well, score well, play defense well, and the rest will take care of itself," Carr said.
Defense will be a particular factor in the tournament, as a new rule has lead to the addition of a strictly defensive player on the court.
The libero is able to sub in and out of the match without restrictions and wears a different jersey than the other players.
This new rule is likely to be an asset for the Red and Blue, as it allows players who ordinarily would compete for a position to play on the court simultaneously.
Despite rule changes and lack of preparation time, the Quakers appear to be primed for another successful season.
"Everyone's pumped," Carr said. "To show people what Penn volleyball is all about."
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