Sept. 10, 2007

Garden City, N.Y. - Dear Fans, Alumni, Parents and Fellow Panthers,

As September draws to a close and summer (slowly) turns to fall I can truly begin to enjoy the season. First, because of our early success and second because I'll never be coaching in the rain. Seriously, though this season has been a rollercoaster ride, which might be difficult to imagine considering on paper we have been so successful. Now don't get me wrong, we have played some very good volleyball, BUT we've also played some not so good volleyball. This is a good problem to have though.

As a team we know what we're capable of doing. We know (and we have said it a million times) that we have the potential to do great things, and the potential to achieve all of our goals, both individually and as a team. What we must do from this point on is figure out how to turn that potential into a reality. The girls have started to show it. I believe that up in Vermont against UMass-Lowell, in games 3 and 4 against C.W. Post and in our match against Queens we have played the inspired and disciplined defense we will need in order to compete against the more competitive programs. All we need to do is develop some consistency.

The girls continue to work very hard, and I'm sure they would be more than willing to explain to you just how hard they've been working. I think we have all started to get on the same page, and everyone has finally bought into the culture and philosophy of this program. With more than half of the season remaining, we still have a ton of work to do; but coming to work gets a little easier everyday when you start to realize that the people you're working so hard with, are also the reason that you're working so hard.

I hope you can all make it to one of our four remaining home matches. Our "homecoming" against Queens had an electrifying atmosphere. The student fans have been great so far (the Softball and Basketball teams and Kappa Sigma) to name a few, not to mention the Staff that has been there also. Thank you for your support! Let's keep Woodruff Hall a home court advantage while it is still our home court!

Go Panthers!

Unity is Our Strength,

Coach MacKnight