How does a team that won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship in 1991 and finished third three consecutive years (1995-1997) manage to slip to its worst record in the 26-year existence of the team? Despite the noticeable decline in the team’s win totals, Coach Chuck McCracken has got a few irons in the fire for next season.

The Guilford College women’s volleyball team completed the 1999 season with a 3-21 overall record, 3-8 in conference play. The team lost three seniors to graduation in 1998, including standouts Monica Jaszcak and Jenn Jankowski. This left the 1999 team with one senior, two juniors, five sophomores, and two freshmen. Needless to say, it was not the most experienced group McCracken has coached.

"We were learning skills on the court that we normally would have been working on in practice," said the eighth-year coach. Despite their youth, the players got to see substantial playing time, a valuable experience that many young players never enjoy.

While inexperience cost the Quakers the bulk of their losses, McCracken found room for optimism. "Inexperience certainly caused us to lose close games, but in some respects we’re better this year than we were last year, (when Guilford went 5-21 record, 2-8 ODAC)" he said. "We are a physically better team, and we are returning all but two of our athletes, maybe even one, next season." Guilford loses outside hitter Susie Browder to graduation, and possibly setter/outside hitter Emily Pavetto. Pavetto sacrificed her junior season to travel abroad and has one year of eligibility left if sahe desires. Browder led the team in the kills and digs per game categories in her final season of collegiate play. Pavetto used her 273 assists to give move into fourth place camong the school's career assist leaders with with 970.

The returning squad includes juniors Marigny Johnston and Mary Catherine Hale. Johnston made a successful move from setter to middle hitter in 1999 and showed much improvement. She ranked second on the team in blocks per game (0.675) and was a top server. Hale led the team in blocks per game (0.950) and was perhaps the most consistent front-row player on the team.

Sophomores Katy Pomeroy-Carter, Sarah Miller, Sarah Reese, Erin Kelly and Stephanie Rhoades return to the lineup in 2000. Miller improved her offense in attacking this season, with a 1.71 kill per game average, a vast improvement over last season’s 0.828 average. She received the team's Most Improved Player award. Reese was a top defender with 4b digs.