Patrick Henry volleyball is looking for an encore. The Patriots are coming off a 2012 Group AAA state quarterfinal appearance and head coach Patty Sheedy is hoping a group of underclassmen, many starters last year, will rise to the occasion in 2013 for PH.
Missing from that 2012 squad will be standouts Caroline Brailsford and hitter Sarah Miller. Likewise, the Patriots find themselves with a new district home as the former AAA Western Valley District is no longer in existence. Patrick Henry now becomes the sole 6A school in the River Ridge District, long noted as a hotbed of volleyball talent with schools that include perennial state powers Cave Spring and Hidden Valley.
Despite being the frontrunner in the old WVD, Sheedy says the move to the River Ridge should pay big dividends. “It’s better competition”, Sheedy noted of the River Ridge Tuesday night after the Patriots’ season opener at the PH gym. “We’ve already been playing teams like Cave Spring, Hidden Valley and Salem each year. You want to improve so that it will all come together at the end of the season when we play against the Division 6 teams in the playoffs.”
It was a 3-game sweep Tuesday night as PH took control to defeat Bassett. The Patriots lost the opening point before reeling off eight straight points for an 8-1 lead in game one. Although Bassett closed to within 2 points twice, the last at 22-20, PH scored the final three points for the 25-20 win.
“There were some first game jitters,” Sheedy noted. “We’re playing three freshmen and seven sophomores. Overall we did a nice job at the net and mixed things up to keep Bassett off balance.”
Game two saw the Patriots break away from a 7-all tie with a 12-6 run that eventually led to a 25-19 win.
Game three was tied at 17 before PH finished on a 8-4 surge that was culminated by the final point clincher on a block by Jade Johnson that split the Bengal front line.
Game three was tied at 17 before PH finished on a 8-4 surge that was culminated by the final point clincher on a block by Jade Johnson that split the Bengal front line.
Abby Wolpert led the Patriot attack with 14 kills, while teammate Olivia Pullin set the table all night, providing 17 assists and 7 digs.
– Bill Turner
