|
East Rowan coach Sandy Basinger and eight players went to volleyball camp at the University of Alabama this summer and got a bit of a wakeup call.
The Mustangs took notice of the 15 other teams that were also at the camp. Those squads displayed a level of skill that impressed the onlooking East players.
The Mustangs enter this season with a conference schedule full of new foes. And they now have an idea of what to expect out of the previously unknown.
“We got to see a lot of different levels of talent, talent they weren’t used to,” Basinger said.
The Mustangs enter the North Piedmont Conference and will get used to seeing the likes of Mooresville and Statesville on a regular basis.
East’s trip provided a preview of things to come this season. And the roster is filled with players ready to accept the challenge ahead.
The Mustangs are led by Michelle Haynes, a senior middle hitter who was an all-conference and all-county selection last year.
Haynes will be surrounded by three sophomores, including 6-foot-1 Maggie Rich and 5-foot-11 Jordan Huffman.
Basinger will rely on youth to avenge last season’s first-round loss to Asheboro in the state playoffs.
“We’re sort of rebuilding with sophomores,” Basinger said. “But all the hard work from this summer has paid off tremendously.”
The Cavaliers technically have three starters returning, but they will have an entirely new look this season.
Junior Alma Ford, senior Julie Lackey and senior Heather Johnson started last season, but all three are playing different positions this year.
Ford has moved from leftside defense and outside hitter to setter. Johnson has switched from middle hitter to outside hitter, and Johnson has moved from leftside hitter to rightside hitter.
“They’ve got to get used to playing new positions and playing with new people,” coach Trish Hester said.
Coach Julie Lillrose is focused on the future.
The Hornets only have one senior, Kristin Bost, on this year’s varsity team.
But Lillrose has seven freshmen, including two in Megan Shabo and Kelly Brown, that she expects contributions from immediately.
“It may not be an advantage this year, but hopefully it will help in the future,” Lillrose said. “This will definitely be a rebuilding year.”
The Hornets have three sophomores on the varsity and are led by a junior, middle hitter Kady Brown.
Coach Jan Dowling returns for her second season, and with it comes a team that has grown more comfortable with its leader.
Dowling came in last season with specialized offense and defenses that gave her team trouble. This season, on the strength of her hitters, Dowling expects better results.
Dowling has four returning starters, including middle hitters Ashlee Rhoades and Tiffany Childress and outside hitter Mandy Yost.
“It takes time to get the familiarity with me, with what I expect and with each other,” Dowling said.
Efforts to reach Coach Adrian James were unsuccessful.
n
Contact Bret Strelow at 704-797-4258 or bstrelow@salisburypost.com
.
|
Today's News
