The volleyball field in the Atlantic 10 Conference is tougher this season than last, according to head coach Jojit Coronel. Nonetheless, the Colonials goal remains the same. They want to win the A-10.

While the goal is the same, the method is different. This season, instead of relying on age and experience, Coronel said the Colonials will rely on unlimited potential. Last year’s team, led by five starting seniors, won the A-10 Championship before making exit in the NCAA Tournament.

“Our goal is to win the A-10s and defend out title,” Coronel said.

To do this, GW will have to face some tough competition. Last year’s threats – Temple, Xavier and Dayton – return with strong squads this season. Coronel said Duquesne will also be a threat, adding that, even though the Colonials beat them last week, the Flyers did not play well.

Massachusetts and Rhode Island also returned better than usual this year, Coronel said.

Coronel said every match is as important as the next one, but certain teams are conference favorites.

Xavier is the team to beat in the A-10 this season, Coronel said. Last year, GW defeated Xavier to capture the A-10 Championship. But this season, unlike GW, Xavier returns with an experienced team.

Xavier is 7-1 so far this season, with a .875 win percentage. The team’s only loss came to conference-rival Dayton Sept. 23. Xavier is 1-1 in the A-10 with a win over Fordham.

Returning starters for Xavier include senior Sara Bachus, who earned A-10 Player of the Week twice this season and has already been named MVP in two tournaments.

“(Bachus) has unlimited range, she jumps well, she passes well- she’s a winner,” Coronel said

Bachus is joined by Molly Martin, a freshman who was named to the All-Tournament team at the Four Points Sheraton Volleyball Invitational earlier this month and was the Sept 10 A-10 Rookie of the Week.

GW faces Xavier for the first time at home on Oct. 12 and at Xavier Nov. 10.

Temple, a team that GW has not beaten for as long as Coronel can remember, looks good this year as well, he said.

“Temple is outstanding as usual,” Coronel said. “They are definitely a team we want to beat.”

Temple remained undefeated against GW last year despite GW’s A-10 title run.

Temple ended last season 20-11, including a 10-game winning streak that began at the Smith Center.

The Owls were last year’s third seed in the tournament and lost in the first round to No. 2 seed Xavier. GW later beat Xavier to capture the title.

Temple is 10-2 so far this season. The team’s .833 overall win percentage is second only to Xavier, a team that has played four fewer games. Temple is 3-0 in the conference after beating Rhode Island, UMass, and La Salle and are on a nine-game win streak.

“They are quick, they are fast in transition, and their outside hitters are fearless,” Coronel saud. “It comes down to whether or not you can stand their onslaught.”

Temple returns this year without outside hitter Alma Kovaci. In her senior year, Kovaci racked up 600 kills. She ranks second on the Owls’ all-time kill list and first on the all-time dig list. She was a three-time A-10 Player of the Week and a member of the A-10 All-Conference and All-Tournament teams.

Last year’s A-10 Rookie of the Year, Yamit Haba, has picked up where she left off for Temple last season. In Temple’s latest victory over La Salle, Haba led the Owls with 17 kills.

GW faces Temple for the first time in Philadelphia Oct. 2 and at the end of the season at home on Nov. 13.

Dayton, the only team to beat Xavier this season, is also off to a strong start. The Flyers are 7-3 and have an impressive 2-0 start in the A-10. So far, Xavier has beat Fordham and Dayton.

Dayton’s biggest asset is its strong recruiting class and two all-conference middle blockers, seniors Katie Ferriell and Xinxin Zhang.

To win, GW will have to control the ball and limit errors, Coronel said. The Colonials will need to stay consistent in their passing and attacking and keep the ball in play.

The Colonials biggest asset will be youth, Coronel said.

“Our advantage is our unlimited potential. The team just plays unbelievable at times,” Coronel said. “The more they play, the better they get.”

He added that while most focus is concentrated on the conference favorites, no team could be taken for granted, including the youngest team in the conference – the Colonials.