.jpg) Photos by Charlie Leffler
Girls set sights on region tourney GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
It should be another highly competitive and rewarding year for the girls’ volleyball teams in Hanover County. As usual, Atlee, Hanover and Lee-Davis should hold a solid grip on the top of the Capital District while county rival Patrick Henry could contend for the Colonial District crown.
The race for the top slot in the Capital will most likely come down to the traditional struggle between Atlee and Hanover. Hanover will need to overcome the loss of key players from last year’s team but to their advantage, they have Kristin Carpenter, who by helping the USA Junior Women’s National Team win a gold medal has proven to be one of the best players at her age level in not only the country but the world.
Atlee will not put tons of experience on the floor, the team has talent and solid chemistry, both of which could carry them far by season’s end.
But neither team can rule-out or overlook Lee-Davis. Both Hanover head coach Wendy Wadsworth and Atlee head coach Curtis Carpenter believe that with new head coach Crystal Taylor at the wheel, the Confederates could to a surprise team this season.
“Lee-Davis is not going to be a slouch by any means,” Carpenter said. “They might be one of those silent killers, you don’t see them coming.”
Meanwhile in the Colonial District, with powerhouses Deep Run and Mills Godwin, Patrick Henry expects to challenge for the title under the leadership of new head coach Alicia Sottung.
ATLEE
The good news for Atlee is that they have five seniors. But there is bad news in that equation as well. “Even with five seniors I don’t really look at them with years of volleyball experience,” said head coach Curtis Carpenter. “I look at them as inexperienced volleyball-wise.”
Yet, even without experience, in his 10th year at Atlee, Carpenter recognizes talent and a good work ethic in his team. “They’re very hard workers,” he said. “I think we’ll end up surprising people and that’s what we’re banking on. We don’t have any real superstars but we have a consistent group. I think any week we could have leaders come from any direction, which excites me. I like a team like that. That makes us dangerous.”
As far as younger talent, sophomore Courtney Booth and freshman Meg Bowers will see probably see substantial time on the court. “I think we’re going to rely heavily on them too,” Carpenter said.
While the Confederates lack substantial height, they can also floor a team that is taller by average than what Carpenter has had before. “We’re not real big but we’re not real small,” he said. “We’ve got a couple of kids that are 5-8, a couple of 5-9s…Our average height has definitely gone up. We just don’t have any 6-footers or 6-3 kids.”
As the talent develops, by season’s end Carpenter expects his team to be among the best. “I’m looking at us being a top five team in the region,” he said. “I’m hoping we can keep that. I want us to be competitive. I want us to challenge the Deep Runs, Godwins and Hanover. I think we can do that.”
Atlee girls volleyball schedule
HANOVER
This year Hanover looks to get past the stigma of being Kristen Carpenter and the Five Other Hawks. But even if the general public doesn’t recognize Carpenter’s teammates as readily, Hawks’ head coach Wendy Wadsworth knows that no team is ever carried by a single superstar player. Therefore, Wadsworth would like to see the no-name support players to make a name for themselves this season. After having the misfortune of drawing and falling to eventual state champion Deep Run in last year’s regionals, Wadsworth plans on taking her team much further this year.
The Hawks’ return eight starters from the team and Wadsworth will look to a trio of talent to provide the foundation for this year’s success.
First and foremost is Carpenter, Besides her talent on the floor, Carpenter brings a fantastic team mentality to the Hawks and does everything she can to make her teammates better. “Kristin’s the ultimate team player, knowing our team is only going to be as good as our weakest player,” Wadsworth said. “If she can help our weakest players get better, then we get better as a team.”
One of the Hawks that is often overlooked is 5-1 senior setter Katie Hudencial, who Wadsworth said makes superstar Carpenter into an even better player. “Kristin can only be as good as the setter we give her,” Wadsworth said.
Opposite Carpenter on the court will be 6-1 outside hitter Taylour Hopkins. “Just an awesome hitter,” Wadsworth said. “Great passer. All-around player. She will be a leader on the team.
“If we have those three on the court then I think we’ll be okay filling in,” Wadsworth said.
One other player that Wadsworth expects to step up big, both figuratively and literally is 6-2 senior Kim Browning who will play the middle. “She will be pretty dominant,” Wadsworth said.
The key to the Hawks’ season will be in their passing. “If we get good serve reception then we can run our offence,” Wadsworth said. “If we can’t it’s going to be a long season.”
Hanover girls volleyball schedule
LEE-DAVIS
By season’s end, new Confederates head coach Crystal Taylor expects Lee-Davis to challenge for the district title. “I think we’re going to be a tough team this season,” she said.
Lee-Davis returns five varsity players from last season and will floor a team of five seniors, seven juniors and a sophomore.
The one player who literally stands out on the Confederates’ roster is 6-1 senior middle hitter Sara Neely. “I’m going to rely heavily on her,” Taylor said.
But Neely will not stand alone. Fellow captains, senior outside hitters, Melanie Hazelwood and Kelsie Hudson will fill out a solid front.
Taylor said that her junior class contains an abundance of defensive specialty players. Most important among those is libero Jessie Cappello. “I’m going to be relying on (her) heavily to get up to speed and get her hands on everything,” Taylor said.
While Neely will stand tall in the middle, the rest of the Lee-Davis squad is slightly lacking in height. However, Taylor does not see that as a disadvantage that cannot be overcome and has been working with her players to increase their vertical lift.
For Taylor, defense will be a prominent part of the game. “We’re going to focus a lot on defense,” she said. “Try to capitalize on other team’s mistakes and other team’s free balls.”
The key to the season for Lee-Davis will be to communicate and work hard, both of which Taylor said she has seen in the early going. “We’ve done a lot of teamwork activities so I expect the girls to work really well together on the court,” she said.
The Confederates have set a goal of finishing second or better in the conference and making it to regional play.
Lee-Davis girls volleyball schedule
PATRICK HENRY
Patriot’s head coach Alicia Sottung is not only new to Patrick Henry but the state of Virginia. Though it was a long trip from up-state New York to Hanover County, Sottung plans on seeing her team make an even more impressive trek by season’s end; to the state championships.
That’s quite a boast for a team playing in the Colonial District, which has produced back to back state champion Deep Run.
Yet, while Sottung may not know her competition, she does know the talent on her team and expects them to go far. “I can see them definitely making states,” she said. “I definitely believe that. They have a lot of talent and girls with a lot of experience.”
One aspect in which Sottung does not lack is height. “We have some really tall girls,” she said. “So, we’re going to be pretty good shape with that.”
One player to keep an eye on this season will be senior setter Meredith Roemer. The team will be balanced on how Roemer plays, which Sottung expects to be very successfully.
Sottung said a group of talented underclassmen will also be standouts this season. Juniors, middle hitter Amelia Earnest and outside hitter Allison Haley will provide power. But Sottung also said to keep an eye on sophomore setter Rachel Hoar.
For Sottung, the key to the season will be in the teams’ serves and net play. “Definitely our serving, getting our serves in,” she said. “I also think blocking is going to be a key to success.”
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