CAPTAINS' CHRONICLES: BRITTANY, SHANNON, AND DANIELLE OPEN THE SEASON

Welcome to Captains' Chronicles, GoECSaints.com's newest feature designed to get you more informed and involved with your favorite EC teams through the eyes of the captains.

 Nick Sczerbinski, Assistant Sports Information Director: What did you do with your offseason?

Shannon Dudley: We had about three weeks of spring season in April, and then we had a scrimmage against Simmons. Nothing too intense, but it kept us in the swing of volleyball.

Brittany Tutalo: We had summer workout plans that we stuck with, but I didn't play any volleyball in the summer.

NS: Did the fact that you're captains change anything about your offseason routine?

Danielle Rose: I think all three of us feel that we need to take on the responsibility because for the last two years, we've had the same set of captains because they became captains as juniors. We're definitely going to get used to working with the coaches more, but having the title of captain gives leadership a different meaning.

NS: How does it feel to be back on campus and back in the city?

BT: I'm a little closer, but it's a completely different feeling when you're back in the city. I wish we could've come back sooner.

DR: I think I was more excited about this year than ever, so I was so happy to be back. Especially with a new team, it's super exciting.

SD: I actually lived here in the summer, but Boston's so different in the summer because all the students are gone. There's nothing much to do unless you have friends here, but everyone being back is exciting, especially with eight new freshmen.

NS: Speaking of the new freshmen, how have they transitioned into college life so far? What have you done as a team to help them get acclimated?

DR: I think they've done well. The second night we were here, we all had a big pizza party and just had conversations about school in general, not just about volleyball.

BT: We did a question bowl, so they would put questions in and the seniors would pull them out one at a time and discuss them as a group. We had our team dinner the first night we were here and the girls already got along so well. You could see them hanging out outside of volleyball. They're really eight talented girls and I think they fit in really well.

NS: Has anyone impressed you in training and practices so far?

DR: I think every freshman has impressed me in one way or another. By day two, there were already girls who I would go up to coach about and say "I was so shocked by her today."

SD: I think one of the outside hitters, Ang [Angelica Czercowy], is going to be one to look out for. She is such a strong hitter, she'll be one to watch.

DR: And Casey Sheehan with her passing too, she's a good defensive player.

BT: Even beyond their skill level, their personalities all come out on the court and they're all already leaders. It's not just the captains or the upperclassmen, they came in and were talking and communicating right away and it's a whole different feeling. We don't have really quiet freshmen this year, everybody's engaged.

DR: Even the juniors have been impressive too. Everyone is focused on improving and we've all been working really hard.

NS: Preseason poll had you at the top of the conference.. Does that put any pressure on? And what does that do in terms of your goals for the season?

BT: I think it definitely does put some pressure on us to come out and play like we're number one in each game, starting off from the first match of the year, instead of working our way up. I think we need to focus on showing everybody that we're here. Our team goal is definitely to win GNACs this year and I think we can do it.

SD: Last year, we were ranked number one and then lost in the semifinals and that was so disappointing. But I just want to be number one and then win GNACs.

NS: Do you have any individual goals, or goals for the group of captains?

DR: I was just super excited to be an upperclassman this year with these ladies that I've played with all through college so far and setting a welcoming environment for the freshmen. I'd like for them to feel like they belong here and in an environment where they feel comfortable with each other and with us.

BT: Having that leadership role as captains and setting examples in practice. We know that now we have to speak up and talk in team huddles, so we have to learn to find that voice.

SD: Even Coach [Denitra Seals] will ask us things and it's like "Wow, now this is my responsibility," so that's huge.

BT: You see it as a senior, everyone just looks towards you if anything's asked, even for something as simple as stretching, you're looked at to lead that, so it's definitely exciting.

NS: You mentioned Coach multiple times. What does it mean to have the leadership of someone who has won Coach of the Year more than once and has taken this program to where it's at right now? What's her presence like around the team?

BT: I know she goes beyond just a coach for all of us. Speaking for the three of us, she's been there for us for everything, whether it's school related, volleyball related, boyfriend related, you can always go to Denitra about it. She does a great job of instilling that hominess in our team and can laugh some mistakes off, but still know when to be serious.

DR: She honestly treats us half like her players and half like her daughters. I always say we're like her 18 daughters.

SD: Over the past four years, I don't even consider her just a coach. She's become a mentor and so much more. She's been there for me through a lot of stuff and I appreciate her so much. She's just someone who I respect a lot and respect everything that she's done.

DR: Volleyball-wise she wants to win probably even more than we do. And having had previous championships and us being so close to winning a championship in the past few years, we all finally just want to lock it in.