August 21, 2010

By Robert Stocks

The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER- The Sherando and James Wood volleyball teams have quite a bit in common leading up to this season.

Both lost key players to graduation at the same positions.

And both still return potent lineups that lead to high expectations in the Northwestern District.

"James Wood kind of lost what we did - they lost a setter and a libero," Sherando coach Chuck Ashby said. "But they still have [hitters] Emily Shannon and Hannah Tierney. I think it will be interesting, and there will be some battles this year. I think it will go down to the wire with the last couple games."

Sherando lost setter Taylor Henshaw and libero Brooklyn Wilson to graduation, but the Warriors return a talented front line led by first team all-district selections Lauren Wilkins and Morgan Sirbaugh.

James Wood also lost a pair of starters, setter Carly Mullin and libero Cady Schaffer. But the Colonels still possess plenty of firepower with Shannon (a first team all-district selection) and Tierney (second team all-district).

"Sherando has an incredible ball club, and coach Ashby has done an incredible job," James Wood coach Jill Lester said. "They've got a lot of girls that can put the ball away. We'll have to line up our best blockers with their best attackers and see who comes out on top."

It's a safe bet that the first meeting between the Warriors and Colonels Sept. 28 at James Wood is already highlighted on their schedules.

And it's clear that both rivals have their sights set on Region II tournament berths.

"I think we'll be a little more competitive just because we have a big senior class," said Lester, whose team fell a win short of the regional last season. "This is their senior year, and it's their last chance to prove what their made of."

New coach Eric Heflin takes over a Millbrook team that went 18-5 and won its third straight district tournament title last fall. But the Pioneers must replace six seniors who played key roles in those championships. Following is a glance at each area team:

Coach:Chuck Ashby, third year

Last year:16-7, 7-1 Northwestern District; Region II runner-up, district regular season champions

Key losses:Brooklyn Wilson, Taylor Henshaw, Ashleigh Tanis

Top returnees:Lauren Wilkins, Sr. outside hitter; Megan Sirbaugh, Sr. setter/hitter; Morgan Sirbaugh, Jr. outside hitter; Brooke Schneider, Jr. middle hitter; Casey Haycocks, Sr. libero; Missy Watson, Sr. libero

Key newcomers:Jessica Henry, Soph. setter; Megan James, Soph. hitter

Outlook:For the second consecutive year, Sherando fell one victory shy of qualifying for the Group AA state tournament in 2009.

And for the second time in as many years, the team that had Sherando's number was Western Albemarle.

Ashby's team appears to have enough talent returning to make another deep run at regionals.

"They're chomping at the bit to get started," Ashby said. "The experience is there and we're just trying to fill in the gaps.

"I'm aiming to be somewhere near the top of the district so we can get into regionals. I'd love to get another shot at Western Albemarle - they've been our downfall for two years now."

The Warriors installed a faster offense last year, and Ashby expects the team to be much more efficient running it this season.

"All of these girls were a part of that and now they're all together again," he said. "We just have to catch up on the setter part of it. These girls have had the experience of making it to the second round of regionals and they know how they have to play to get back again."

First match:Tuesday at Clarke County, 7:15

Coach:Eric Heflin, first year

Last year:18-5, 5-3 Northwestern District; district tournament champions

Key losses:Devon Courneya, Gennie McGuirk, Jordan Orndoff, Anna Comer, Ellie Schryver, Ashley DeRemer

Top returnees:Megan Perry, Jr. outside hitter; Blake Parkes, Jr. setter/opposite; Nicole DeRemer, Jr. outside hitter

Key newcomers:Callie Beegle, Jr. setter; Brittany Whitacre, Soph. middle hitter; Mary Katherine Francisco, Jr. libero; Bethany Ackerman, Soph. middle hitter; Courtney Adams, Soph. middle hitter; Sara Richard, Jr. libero; Amanda Hileman, Jr. opposite; Shelby Feliciano, Jr. opposite; Kelsey Noel, Jr. outside hitter

Outlook:Heflin inherits a team with just three returning players, and he said he plans to take it "one point at a time" with 12 newcomers on the varsity roster.

"We're concentrating on making sure we do the fundamentals properly," said Heflin, who also coaches at Frederick County Middle School. "I expect my team to work hard and they do. I want them to buy into playing to win and not playing not to lose."

The Pioneers return Parkes, who can play setter or opposite hitter, and outside hitters Perry and DeRemer.

Heflin likes his team's enthusiasm, but he said it's far to early to tell how the Pioneers will fair in the Northwestern District.

"It's really up in the air and only time will tell how we perform," Heflin said. "I kind of know what James Wood has, and I kind of know what Sherando has. They're both really tough teams. Most of the girls from James Wood I've coached at the high school or middle school level, so I know they have plenty of talent there."

Heflin said he's been encouraged by his team's attitude and effort in practice.

"They're a very close group and they're very enthusiastic about volleyball," he said. "They always give me 100 percent. I couldn't ask for a better group of girls to coach."

First match:Thursday vs. Woodgrove, 7:30

Coach:Jill Lester, third year

Last year:14-7, 6-2 Northwestern District

Key losses:Carly Mullin, Cady Schaffer

Top returnees:Emily Shannon, Sr. hitter; Hannah Tierney, Sr. middle hitter; Megan Crabtree, Sr. outside hitter; Eleanor Kent, Sr. setter; Payton Clark, Sr. middle hitter; Rachel Rau, Jr. right hitter; Cate Beach, Jr. defensive specialist; Amanda Shaughnessey, Sr. middle hitter

Key newcomers:Kelby Jackson Soph. defensive specialist; Emilee Payne, Soph. setter; Tarah Wampler, Soph. outside hitter; Erica Hepner, Soph. middle blocker

Outlook:James Wood's ultimate goal is to advance beyond the Northwestern District this year, and the Colonels return plenty of experience to make a run at a regional berth.

Shannon, a first team all-district selection, and Tierney, a second team all-district pick who has committed to play at Division II South Carolina-Aiken next fall, give the Colonels a pair of dominant players up front.

The key for the Colonels, however, might be replacing Mullin's setter position and Schaffer's libero spot.

"With losing Carly last year - she ran our offense, and Cady ran our defense," Lester said. "It's just [a matter of] making sure whoever fills those roles is a strong enough leader."

Although the Colonels have plenty of strength at the net, Lester said front-line play might not be the team's best attribute.

"I think our attack will do well, but I think our biggest strength is our serving," Lester said. "[And] our defense - I've got a group of girls willing to sacrifice their body for the ball. Our goal is to try to frustrate the other team with our defense."

First match:Tuesday at Spotswood, 7

Coach:Lindsay Hazelette, third year

Last year:8-15, 2-6 Northwestern District

Key losses:Kara Dixon, Diana Kellum, Emily Biddle, Maggie Martin, and Ana Stoyanova

Top returnees:Emma Sweeney, Sr. middle hitter; Colleen Koppenhaver, Sr. outside hitter; Laurie Connelly Sr, defensive specialist; Megan Kish, Jr. setter; Lauren Wingfield, Sr. outside hitter; Alex Bazdar, Jr. outside hitter

Key newcomers:Dierdre Carter, Soph. middle hitter; Chanice Robinson, Jr. defensive specialist; Megan Strother, Jr. libero; Alex Barnett, Soph. outside/middle hitter; Anna Lehman, Jr. outside hitter; Alison Snow, Soph. setter.

Outlook:After winning just a pair of district games last season, Hazelette hopes this year's team can improve in district play.

The Judges lost five players to graduation, including Dixon, who was a second team all-district selection last year. But the team returns six varsity players.

"We definitely want to improve on our district record," Hazelette said. "In year's past we've gone unnoticed, but maybe some of the county teams will be taken off-guard [this year]."

The Judges' offense will run through Kish.

"We'll have an experienced setter that can run our offense smoothly," Hazelette said. "I think we're going to be really aggressive in serving and hitting. Probably half of the team can jump serve, and Carter and Wingfield with their aggressive hitting will kind of lead the team offensively."

First match:Thursday vs. Tuscarora, 7

Coach:Mary Brune, third year

Last year:12-9, 7-3 Bull Run District

Key losses:Amy Hagerdon, Molly Keesling, Leslie Connor, Holly Smucker, Kayla Ward

Top returnees:Chelsea Nelson, Sr. outside hitter; Amelia Eyles, Sr. outside hitter/setter; Clara Thiel, Sr. middle hitter; Kasey Canterbury, Sr. setter; Brittany Teasley, Jr. libero; Megan Allison, Sr. outside hitter; Meredith Roberts, Sr. outside hitter

Key newcomers:Ammie Levi, Soph. middle hitter; Olivia Gore, Soph. outside/middle hitter; Somona Zduova, Soph. outside/middle hitter; Isabella Eyles, Soph. defensive specialist/outside hitter; Monica Warfield, Jr. defensive specialist

Outlook:After losing five key players from last year's team, Brune hopes the Eagles can develop consistent play and peak by the end of the Bull Run District season.

The Eagles' lineup features a number of multiple sport athletes, and Brune said only five of Clarke's 13 players play travel ball.

"Consistency is probably going to be the thing that makes or breaks us," Brune said. "I think we're fairly strong on serve-receive."

Nelson and Amelia Eyles appear to be the Eagles' top hitters, but Brune wants her supporting cast to focus on placement instead of power.

"Chelsea and Amelia are probably my big guns," Brune said. "I think my supporting hitters are doing a fairly good job, but we don't have anyone with the automatic kill shots. If you can't hit hard, you have to hit smart, and I have more players doing that this year."

Brune said defending district champ Strasburg lost several players to graduation, but she still expects the Rams to be a factor in what she thinks should be a competitive district.

"Strasburg lost all but one in their starting lineup, but I wouldn't be surprised if they put it back together," Brune said. "I think [the district] is more wide open. We're not consistent yet, but by the end of the season we should gel."

First match:Tuesday vs. Sherando, 7:15

Coach:Ellie Wheelock, sixth year

Last year:Tied for first place in the VACA

Key losses:Amanda Powell, Ashley Wallace

Top returnees:Allie Pieper, Jr. middle hitter; Kayla Freemire, Soph. setter; Karina Galpin, Jr. outside hitter; Emily Tusker, Jr. middle hitter; Logan Colley, Jr. outside hitter

Outlook:The Patriots enter the 2010 season with only one senior on their nine-player roster.

Wheelock said she's stressing overall improvement with her team and hopes to again be competitive in the Virginia Association of Christian Athletics this year.

"We're really working hard," Wheelock said. "Our big problem has been communication. We're working hard with that, and we're trying to get our hitters more consistent. We're trying to get our middle hitters to be quicker so it's harder to block."

First match:Thursday vs. Shenandoah Valley Academy, 4:30

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