Heather DilallaWith her third season at Cabrini quickly approaching, Lady Cavaliers basketball Captain Jackie Yoder has high hopes and expectations for herself and the team this year.
“From the team this year I really expect for us to come together,” the elementary education and special education major said. “I really want us to come together as a team and work hard.”
Yoder, just like the rest of the Lady Cavs lineup, is determined to make it far in the post-season this year. “As a team, we’re really looking to at least make it past the first round of the playoffs,” the forward said. “We wanna make it, be over 500 and hopefully go to the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Championships.”
However, this is going to be easier said than done. With the loss of some key players from last year in the off-season as well as a completely new coaching staff, things are going to be tough. “As of right now, we are only practicing with nine people. So it’s a little tough. I think we’re doing pretty well, though. We’re really working hard and stepping up to the challenge.”
The new coaching staff comes as a result of head coach Darlene Hildebrand resigning over the summer as well as the rest of her staff leaving for various other reasons.
Replacing Darlene Hildebrand is Barbara “Bobbi” Morgan. Coach Morgan was the head coach of the Haverford High School women’s team, a position she held since 1990. During her 14 seasons, she compiled a record of 272-118 as well as six Central League Championships. In 2003, Coach Morgan led Haverford to a 28-3 record and a berth in the Sweet 16 of the PIAA Class AAAA Basketball tournament.
“I didn’t come here to lose,” Yoder said.
Also on her staff is assistant coach Fran Burbidge, two-time Kodak All-American Kate Pierangeli and recent Penn State graduate Caroline Tarves.
Yoder has only good things to say about this new coaching staff. “I really like their coaching styles,” Yoder said. “They really work on team unity, work ethic and really want to win.”
Yoder said that despite the remaining unfamiliarities among the players, the team is still closer than ever. “I would say we’re very close. On the court we get along very well. Off the court we get along and we’re just a group of friends,” Yoder said.
Nonetheless, the team is still in the process of getting to know one another. “We’re a little bit more of strangers towards each other since we don’t know each other that well. Last year…we all lived together, so we all knew each other. This year it’s a little bit different scenario, were just starting to get used to each other.”
This is an opinion shared by new head coach Bobbie Morgan, “We’re in a get-to-know process here,” she said.
The Lady Cavaliers season officially gets underway on Sunday, Nov. 28 with their first game against the Knights at King’s College.
Posted to the web by Paul Nasella
