James Wood Volleyball Loaded For Another Postseason Run

Posted: August 22, 2014
By ROBERT STOCKS
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — Coming off state tournament appearances in each of the past two seasons, James Wood enters the 2014 season with a deep and talented roster that hopes to take the next step.

And to call the Colonels loaded might be an understatement.

James Wood returns seven seniors from last year’s team that went unbeaten in the Northwestern District and finished as the Conference 21 and 4A North Region runner-up to eventual 4A state champion Loudoun County.

“We have our sights set on Loudoun County,” said James Wood coach Jill Couturiaux. “That’s kind of who were going after. To be the best you’ve got to beat the best. We want to prepare ourselves mentally and physically to walk into Loudoun County as the underdog and come out the victor.

“We’re always the underdog when it comes to Loudoun County but this year we’re stacked with seven seniors. As a coach in my seventh season, this is the team that’s got the most potential. They have a chance to do some significant things for James Wood volleyball and we don’t want to lose sight of that.”

Loudoun County, with a Virginia High School League-record six state championships since 2007, has been the premier program in the state since the turn of the century, but the Colonels have every right to feel like this year can be their best shot at knocking off the Raiders — who they will face on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in Leesburg.

The Colonels return area leaders at most of the major stat categories, including All-4A North Region first teamer and Northwestern District Player of the Year Ashley Hillyard, who had an area-best 534 assists a season ago, senior Ally Iden, who led the area with 457 digs, and senior Lindsey Painter, who led the area with 381 kills.

James Wood also returns senior Katie Houser, who missed last year because of a foot injury. Houser, who has committed to Notre Dame, earned first team All-Region II honors when she led the area with 451 kills and also had 220 digs, 84 aces and 30 blocks during her sophomore season in 2012.

With Houser and Hillyard returning, the Colonels have the past two Northwestern District Players of the Year back to lead the most versatile and deep roster that Couturiaux has ever had.

“It’s going to be so hard to get on the court and get playing time,” Couturiaux said. “Some of these girls — from the seventh or eighth player on up — could very well be in the starting lineup for other teams.

“It’s going to be tough. Some coaches say that’s a good thing, but it’s tough because you form relationships with the kids and I’ve coached most of them since they were 13-years-old.”

Although the Colonels have high hopes for a deep postseason run, Couturiaux said she knows her team will face challenges throughout with solid district and conference opponents.

“We have to take it one match at a time,” Couturiaux said. “I know we’ll have the target on our back. We can’t forget that. Teams will come at us with a lot of intensity.

“Heritage was a really good ball club last year, and they gave us a great match. Sherando will be gearing up to come after us, and Handley isn’t in our conference but it’s still a great district match. It can be anybody’s year but we’re hoping that it’s ours.”

Sherando heads into the season with a new coach, but it’s a very familiar one within the Warriors’ program.

James Minney takes over the varsity program for Chuck Ashby, and this will be Minney’s second stint as the head coach of the varsity program.

Minney guided Sherando to a 105-40 overall record, including a Group AA state runner-up finish in 2005, and his Warrior teams won three district titles and made four regional tournament appearances from 2002-’07.

Minney returns a youthful team overall (with just three seniors), but the Warriors should receive a huge contribution from a junior class that was the nucleus of the JV team that combined to go 42-1 over the past two seasons.

“We’re young at the varsity level but as a JV group they played very, very well,” said Minney, who was Sherando’s head junior varsity coach and varsity assistant coach for the past three seasons. “It’s one of those teams where we’ll be good in a tough conference with Loudoun County and James Wood. [In Conference 21] Loudoun County and James Wood will be the top two teams. I think it could go either way with [those two]. I think we can be competitive and at least make them work hard. If we do that, we’ll be happy.”

Handley must fill the void left by Liz Grove, Semefa Tettagah and Rachel Dodson, but Judges coach Lindsay Cole hopes her team can contend for one of the top spots in Conference 23 and compete well with the local rivals.

“In conference I think we’ll have a very good showing,” Cole said. “Fluvanna will be our toughest competition. We’re hoping to finish first or second.

“[Locally] James Wood and Sherando will have a good showing, but we’re just going to go out and not take any games for granted. Anytime we play a county team it just adds to it. The players know each other and it’s just a rivalry among the Winchester [area] teams.”

Shenandoah Valley Christian Academy, coming off a 21-1 season and a VACA state quarterfinal appearance, opens the season on Saturday with its seven- (or eight-) team Pumpkin Tournament that will be held at both SVCA and Mountain View Christian.

The following is a glance at the area teams:

James Wood

Coach: Jill Couturiaux, seventh year

Last year: 28-6 (8-0 Northwestern District), lost to Jamestown in 4A state quarterfinal; 4A North Region runner-up; Conf. 21 runner-up.

Key losses: Brandi Griffith (now playing at Shenandoah) and Molly Tierney.

Top returnees: Ashley Hillyard, Sr., setter; Ally Iden, Sr., libero; Savannah Yost, Sr., outside hitter; Katie Houser, Sr., outside hitter; Lindsey Painter, Sr., outside hitter; Lexi Copley, Sr., outside hitter; Abbye Prelip, Sr., defensive specialist; Megan Hillyard, So., setter; Leilani Burch, So., outside hitter; Emma Montgomery, Jr., middle blocker; Taylor Heishman, So., middle blocker.

Top newcomers: Kirstin Mullin Jr. outside hitter, Ashanti Day, So. middle hitter; Sidney Furr, Jr. opposite.

Couturiaux’s outlook: “I feel like offensively we have the potential to be strong. Usually I focus on James Wood to be good defensively. This year we can be just as strong offensively as we can defensively and that’s when really good things can happen for your ball club.”

First match: Aug. 26, at Kettle Run, 7

Sherando

Coach: James Minney, first year

Last year: 10-9 (4-4 Northwestern District)

Key losses: Blair Adams, Alaina Combs, Whitney Dellinger, Erin Magalis, Clare Milburn.

Top returnees: Erica Scully, Sr., defensive specialist; Michelle Baker, Sr. middle; Anna Haycocks, Sr., outside hitter; Kelsey Singhas, Jr., hitter; Mackenzie Cornwell, So., hitter; Melissa Marshall, Sr., middle.

Top newcomers: Audra Smelser, Jr. opposite; Kelsey Utz, Jr. setter; Kelsea Wilkins, Jr. setter; Alaina Paige, So. opposite; Brooke Aston, Jr. defensive specialist; Sarah Schellhammer, So. defensive specialist.

Minney’s outlook: “Defensively, we’re pretty strong and offensively we’re probably going to be a little bit shorter than most teams, so we’ll have to be quick and fast. It’s a good group and they mesh well. We hope we can step it up with four returning varsity players and only three starters.”

First match: Aug. 28, at Spotswood

Handley

Coach: Lindsay Cole, seventh year

Last year: 10-10 (6-2 Northwestern)

Key losses: Liz Grove, Semefa Tettegah, Allie Hoffman, Molly Mintschenko, Rachel Dodson and Nicole Smith.

Top returnees: Emily Snow, Sr., outside hitter; Alexis Zygmunt, Sr., outside hitter; Liza Homan, Jr., middle hitter; Jada Wilson, Jr. right side

Top newcomers: Molly Kate Gavello, Sr. setter; Miriah Smith, Sr. libero; Lauren Morris Jr. outside hitter; Carly Feagans, Jr. libero; Sarah Snow, So. middle; Mya Mintschenko, So. setter; Maggie Wise, Fr. outside hitter.

Cole’s outlook: “I kind of just look at it as a reloading season. We still have talent on the court so it’s just building that ability and chemistry. I think will be well rounded. I think our strengths will be hitting and blocking.”

First match: Sept. 4, vs. Millbrook, 7:15

Millbrook

Coach: Ashley Sutphin, third year

Last year: 3-14 (1-7 Northwestern)

Key losses: Sarah Duvall, Brooke Russell, Kaitlyn Oates, Holly Stevens and Kendall Bohan.

Top returnees: Alexa Keeler, Sr. middle hitter; Ashley Humphrey, Sr. middle hitter; Imani Major, Sr. outside hitter; Cheyenne Jankiewicz, Sr. setter; Taylor Linder, Jr. outside hitter.

Top newcomers: None mentioned

Sutphin’s outlook: “I’m looking forward to the season with the talent that we have and the way the girls are working together. I think it will be a positive year. I think our defense on the net will be good, and our offense with hitting. I think our defensive coverage will be stronger than it’s been.”

First match: Aug. 26, vs. John Champe, 7:30

Clarke County

Coach: Seneca Sowers, second year

Last year: 5-17 (4-13 Bull Run District)

Key losses: Taylor Weir, Tess Ashby, Stephanie Nelson, Sarah Nelson and Hannah Ravenscroft.

Top returnees: Madison Mackintosh, Sr. defensive specialist-opposite; Jaime Hoggatt, Sr. defensive specialist; Kaitlyn Turner, Sr. outside hitter; Allegra Eyles, Jr. middle hitter; Javonna Lansdown, So. outside hitter.

Top newcomers: Rebecca Acland Jr. middle hitter; Mallory Unger, Jr. setter; Morgan Withers, So. utility; Madison Palmer, Jr. defensive specialist; Whitney Mitchell, Fr. setter.

Sower’s outlook: We’re a very young team and we have quite a few girls with little or no varsity experience. But the girls have been working very hard and we’re looking to improve on last season. We’ll look to returners for leadership, and we’re looking to Javonna to provide leadership on offense and Jaime to provide it on defense. We’re just trying to get better every day at practice.”

First match: Aug. 25, vs. Skyline, 7:15

SVCA

Coach: Ellie Wheelock, 10th year

Last year: 21-1, VACA North Region champs, State quarterfinalist

Key losses: Taylor Jones, Rebecca Evans and Hannah McGann.

Top returnees: Carol Bartholomew, Sr. middle hitter; Krista Freemire, Sr. outside hitter; Hannah Berger, So. middle; Megan Bowers, So. libero; Amber Miller, So. outside hitter.

Top newcomers: None mentioned

Wheelock’s outlook: “I think we’re going to do really well. The key position that we’re filling is the setter spot [filled last year by McGann]. It will be a little difficult but we have some girls who are working hard at it. Overall, I think we’ll do very well.”

First match: Saturday, SVCA Pumpkin Tournament, 9 a.m.

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