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09/09/2018 12:00 AMLast year, the Valley Regional volleyball team put together its best season in more than a decade by posting a record of 20-5, advancing to the Shoreline Conference Tournament final, and reaching the Class M State Tournament quarterfinals. With five major contributors having graduated, the Warriors began their 2018 campaign by dropping their first two contests. The good news is that Head Coach Kathy Scott believes her team is starting to build a solid foundation with several players taking on new roles.
Naturally, Coach Scott wanted Valley to get out to a better start this year. However, she also knew it would take some time for the Warriors to jell since there are so many new players seeing time as starters. In last week’s action, Valley took a 3-0 defeat versus Morgan and lost a 3-1 contest against Waterford.
“It was a rough season start against Morgan, losing in three, but against Waterford, the play was better, and players are settling in to positions and working together better,” Scott said. “Of course, we graduated five starters in key positions after our most successful season in over 13 years.”
On Sept. 6, Valley lost at Morgan by a 3-0 score its opener. The Huskies took the match behind set scores of 26-24, 25-13, and 25-19. Senior captain Maddy Just notched six kills and a dig, while fellow senior captain Emily Hutchinson had three kills and blocked three shots for the Warriors. Sophomore Alena Crosby contributed 16 assists, and senior Maddy Meyer added a block.
Two days later, the Warriors hosted Waterford and took a four-set defeat by the score of 25-18, 25-2, 23-25, 25-14. Junior Carlee Kirla tallied seven kills, four aces, and seven digs, while Just had five kills, three aces, and 15 digs. Senior Zoe Hollewedel also dug out 13 shots for the Warriors. Junior Reeve Fergueson had two aces with three digs, and Crosby dished out 14 assists in the loss.
This season, Valley brings back two varsity starters—Just and Hutchinson—who are also senior captains. Coach Scott feels comfortable with her tandem at the leadership helm.
“The captains ran our summer league, the weight room, and pickup play at Hubbard Park prior to the start of the season. The two of them have the desire to be great teammates and carry on with the success of last season,” said Scott, who welcomes new assistant coach Geane Giordano to the program this year. “Maddy brings this great enthusiasm. She loves to include people and help out any way she can. She’s a real giver of her time, while Emily has a high volleyball IQ and is a general on the court. She knows all the positions and what’s supposed to happen. I have great trust in them, and their hearts are in the right place.”
Coach Scott thinks the Warriors need to be aggressive if they want to have another successful season. She sees that characteristic in Kirla and hopes it filters throughout the rest of the roster.
“Carlee Kirla has stood out so far with her intensity, power, and hustle. She’s an opposite and another player that will be exciting to watch,” said Scott. “She goes for everything defensively and plays with great intensity.
Scott said that Valley should have a solid defensive unit this year. She’s depending on seniors Rachel Dona, Caitlin Bouchard, and Hollewedel to hold down the back row. Hollewedel is playing libero and has quickly grasped the fundamentals of the position.
“Rachel, Caitlin, and Zoe are all defensive players and will serve as needed,” said Scott. “Zoe is libero this season and is gaining confidence and learning the position quickly. She has a lot of power with her serve, as well as giving a solid back-row hit.”
The Warriors are also looking for depth to be an asset. Coach Scott feels that Valley’s depth has been bolstered by the hard work its athletes turned in during the offseason. She said that players like Fergueson and sophomore Emma Counter serve as prime examples of how diligent training can aid a player on the court.
“Emma Counter and Reeve Fergueson put in some solid offseason work, and their dedication has had a big payoff for them,” she said. “Emma Counter does a good job as a setter running the court and has great defense. Reeve’s serve is a real strength, and her passing and hitting is dramatically better.”
Even with several new faces, Valley still has plenty of athletes who are ready to log minutes this year. Juniors Mackenzie Neviaser, Madden Riley, and Mahi Shah may see some time on the varsity floor for the Warriors.
“We have good depth with two setters, three outside hitters, two middle hitters, and three opposites,” said Coach Scott. “We also have some players in each of those positions who will swing from JV to varsity.”
One young player who’s been impressive in the early going is sophomore Crosby. The setter made her presence known during last year’s Class M State Tournament and is now taking on a bigger role with the squad.
“Alena Crosby, the passes look good, and her ability to run down balls and set a hittable ball is really impressive. The fact that this is only her second season playing is remarkable,” said Scott. “She stepped in a couple of times in the state tourney last year and served 100 percent and set like she had always been playing when, in fact, she came directly from JV and hadn’t even practiced with us.”
While an 0-2 start comes with some challenges, Coach Scott feels confident that the Warriors have the right attitude and approach to make 2018 another successful year. Now, they just have to put it all together.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but the players are enthusiastic, eager, and energized,” said Scott. “They are a great group to work with.”