Patriots Ready To Defend WVD Volleyball Title One Last Time
With this being the last year that the Western Valley District will be in existence, the Patrick Henry volleyball team is looking to defend its district crown and make another run deep into the Group AAA state tournament this season.
Returning for the Patriots, who finished second in the Northwest Region before losing in the state quarterfinals, are senior setter Caroline Brailsford (81 aces, 142 kills, 736 assists, 56 blocks and 132 digs), senior outside hitter Sarah Miller (59 aces, 314 kills, 202 digs),senior libero Morgan Robison (301 digs, 42 aces) senior middle Page Pest (50 kills, 48 blocks), senior middle Lauren Deck (78 kills, 40 blocks) and sophomore defensive specialist Haley Arnold (129 digs).
New to the varsity lineup are junior outside hitter Samantha Edge, sophomore defensive specialist Sophia Tailor, sophomore opposite Rachel Miller, freshman outside hitter Abby Wolpert, freshman setter Olivia Pullin and freshman middle Bradley Smith.
Head Coach Patricia Sheedy, who saw her team compile a 21-7 mark last season, sees her team’s strengths as being a returning setter, an outside hitter and libero, plus experience. While, a second outside hitter and blocking will be a weakness.
The Patriots see Hidden Valley and Cave Spring as being their big matches, along with a tournament at Cave Spring with teams that made it to the state tournament in 2011.
What can Patriot fans expected this season? “We have a very tough non-district schedule, but we should challenge for the district title,” noted Sheedy.
Patrick Henry opens its 2012 campaign on Wednesday, Aug. 22 when they host Hidden Valley.
Colonels Return Experience Under New Coach
With six returning players, all seniors, off of last year’s fifth place team, the William Fleming volleyball team is hoping this will be the season that the Colonels make an upward move in the last year of the Western Valley District under new Head Coach Jack Jagodzinski.
Returning for the Colonels are seniors Asia Arnold (middle hitter), Sarah Bias (outside hitter), Sadie Elliotte (setter), Martika Mann (middle hitter), Latasha Williams (outside hitter) and Renasha Williams (middle hitter).
New to the varsity lineup are senior Raven Barnett (RS), junior Zahria Wade (outside hitter), sophomore Jewel Hurt (BR), senior Jasmine Cook (BR), junior Danaysia Reynolds (BR), junior Jazmun Brown (BR), junior Dani Nourse (BR) and junior Makatlyn Piedge (outside hitter).
“The Lady Colonels of William Fleming have the pieces to put together a great season this year. While there is improvement to be made, it is clear that we have some good talent,” said Coach Jagodzinski. “Sadie Elliotte is returning as setter, while Latasha Williams looks good at OH. We have quite a few girls who can both block and hit, so we will be finding the best spots for them to fit in. Sarah Bias, Jewel Hurt, and Dani Nourse have shown themselves to be our best passers, and we will be relying on them to get points started for us.”
The Colonels see their strengths as the size of the front line, senior leadership and many capable hitters and blockers. While their weaknesses are finding passing from new varsity players and putting the ball down consistently.
William Fleming sees its top match as being its season-opener on Monday, Aug. 20 at Salem.
What can William Fleming fans expect this season? “Look for the Lady Colonels to improve greatly throughout the season,” said Jagodzinski.
Northside Volleyball Looking To Take Over Top Spot In BRD
With five players returning off of last year’s second place team, the Northside Vikings volleyball team is working to take over the top spot in the Blue Ridge District this season.
Returning for the Vikings, who fell to Rustburg in the Region III semifinals and finished 8-18 overall, are Kelsey Jarrett (senior, OH), Caitlyn Porterfield (senior, S), Elena West (junior, S), Kelsie Hendren (senior, OPP) and Andrea Elrod (senior, OH).
New to the varsity lineup will be Taylor Price (junior, MH), Aleah Keaton (freshman, MH), Olivia Earls (junior, L), Kelsey Altizer (junior, OH), Kayla Besase (junior, OH), Carly Altizer (junior, S), Mary Grace Agner (junior, DS), Katelyn Bowden (junior, OPP).
Earls, Jarrett and Porterfield will serve as the team captains this fall.
When asked about Northside’s strengths, Head Coach Amy Crawford, who is starting her eighth season at the helm replied, “Jarrett and Porterfield are two strong returning leaders to the floor. Plus, this is a hard working group that is putting the team above themselves.”
The Vikings will play in the James River Tournament on Saturday, Aug, 25 and will also host its annual Viking Fall Classic on Saturday, Sept. 15.
Northside opens its season on Thursday, Aug. 23 at Roanoke Catholic.
Roanoke Catholic Ready To Defend VISAA, Div. 3 State Volleyball Crown
With nine returning players back, the goal of the Roanoke Catholic volleyball team is to continue what they started in 2011, which is defending its VISAA, Division 3 state title come this season.
Donning the green and gold again this fall will be senior outside hitter Mairin Guilfoyle (289 kills, 84 aces, 257 digs), senior setter Ava Perez (562 assists, 67 aces, 121 digs), senior outside hitter Maria Barrera (127 digs, 15 aces), senior defensive specialist Anna Barrera (87 digs, 17 aces), junior right side Danielle Dorman (33 blocks, 57 kills), junior libero Anne Deer (317 digs, 34 aces), sophomore middle blocker Allison George (38 blocks, 20 aces), sophomore outside hitter Alexandra Arnold (41 blocks, 58 kills) and freshman setter Ashley Deer (46 assists, 27 digs).
“Our strength this year is the large number of returning players we have that were with us last season when we won the state championship,” said second-year head coach Aaron King. “That experience should help us as we work to build our team this year.”
New to the varsity team this year are senior defensive specialist Biance Herrera, along with junior middle blocker Zoe Doubles and junior outside hitter Nat LeDonne.
“The coaches and players all feel that there is no reason why we shouldn’t strive to duplicate what last year’s team accomplished,” King said. “Our goal is to continue what we started in 2011.”
Roanoke Catholic sees its top matches as those being with North Cross, Liberty Christian, Eastern Mennonite, Hidden Valley, Patrick Henry, Northside, Blacksburg and Westover Christian.
The Celtics open their season on Tuesday, Aug. 21 when they host Westover Christian Academy.
