The seeds of some of the growing pains of the 2021 season should start to bear fruit as Lincoln University volleyball coach Charity Hart begins her season leading the volleyball team.
 
It was a team that 70 percent of the student-athletes were in their first season playing college volleyball. That, in itself, presented several challenges.
 
"My biggest takeaway (from last season) is to start building that trust on and off the court early," said Hart. "The cohesiveness came way too late for us last season so that is our focus this preseason and in our early non-conference play."
 
Sophomore Haley Loper (Middletown, Del./St. Georges Technical) will be looked to have a larger role in the offense, but will also be surrounded by a couple of freshmen to aid in the offensive efficiency. She led the team with 1.9 kills per set and was second with 120 kills. Loper showed her all-around game with 103 digs, 19 blocks, and 17 service aces.
 
Juniors Erica Taylor (Romulus, MI/Romulus Summit Academy) and Erinn Taylor (Romulus, MI/Romulus Summit Academy) return after finishing with 66 and 53 kills, respectively.
 
"I expect for Haley to continue to do exactly what she's been doing; being a consistent offensive force and threat, leading by example on and off the court, and showing up every day ready to work," said Hart. "This season will put on display the work that she has been putting in. Both Haley and Kendra Williams (Dover, Del./Dover) have been working hard on the outside and right side."
 
The Taylor twins will also be expected to provide defense at the net for a Lincoln team that lost more than half of their blocks with the graduation of Kaiya Lewis (Queens, N.Y./Queens Preparatory Academy). Erinn Taylor (Romulus, MI/Romulus Summit Academy) is the top returner at the net with 28 blocks. Senior Jasmine Lewis had eight blocks and Erica Taylor (Romulus, MI/Romulus Summit Academy) contributed five blocks.
 
Freshman middle blocker Laila Newborn (Ardmore, Pa./Lower Merion) and freshman right side/setter Janaa Smith (Rochester, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) should make early contributions.
 
"Both Erinn and Erica present big blocks at the net and we will rely on them to make a big impact at the net," said Hart. "Also, our new additions Newborn and Smith add height and depth to our physicality at the net. This will be one of our biggest front lines at the net in quite some time."
 
Even with the talent at the nets, sophomore libero Mariah Webster (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech/) may have the biggest impact on the team. Her ability to serve receive and dig attacks effectively will get the Lincoln offense jumpstarted. She finished with a team-high 227 digs in 74 sets.
 
Sophomore Jaida Lumpkin (Middletown, Del./Middletown) took over the sole setter position midway through the season and finished with 310 assists. She was also second on the team with 138 digs, so the combination of Lumpkin and Webster will be pivotal to Lincoln's success.
 
"I believe this season's team will have a very balanced attack and major contributions from every player on this team," said Hart. "We have very athletic hitters at all positions and our captain and libero, Mariah, has been working hard to continue to provide consistency in our defense and serve receive. This year, I expect Lumpkin to surprise the conference. She commands the court as a setter and can really move the ball around."
 
Lincoln opens the season 6 p.m. September 1, hosting Goldey-Beacom in non-conference action.