After both his Super Bowl victories, John Elway was asked what he was going to do as champion. His answer was simple: “I’m going to Disneyland.”
And while the days of John Elway are over, a new champion is reviving the tradition. The Bulldogs (19-4), newly crowned Ivy League champions, will travel to California over Thanksgiving break to battle against No. 17 San Diego (20-4) and Loyola Marymount (13-13).
In traveling to California, half the Elis will be returning to their home state, including outside hitter Cat Dailey ’10, who was named Ivy League Player of the Week for the second time this season.
On Tuesday Nov. 25, the Elis will face the Toreros. San Diego boasts an impressive No. 17 ranking in the nation. Of their four losses, three were to ranked opponents.
But the Bulldogs are not intimidated by the Toreros. Coming off a strong performance in conference play, the Elis have won eight straight and 13 of their last 14 matches.
“This weekend will be a great test for us,” head coach Erin Appleman said. “It will help us to stay focused on improving every day.”
The Elis have refined their game on both sides of the net. The Bulldogs finished atop the Ivy League in offense with the best hitting percentage. On defense, the Elis lead the conference in blocks (2.13 avg/set), digs (17.1 avg/set) and service aces (1.6 avg/set).
On Saturday Nov. 29, the Bulldogs will take on Loyola Marymount. The Lions have hit a serious slump. After a strong start to their season, they have lost six of their last seven matches. This will be the last regular season match for both teams.
The Elis have already clinched a spot in the NCAA tournament by winning the Ivy League.