Weiser brings out youth movement
By Ray Rodriguez - Argus Observer
Friday, August 24, 2007 12:05 PM PDT
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| Weiser’s Carlie Palmer (middle) sets up for the spike while Payette’s Caylee Bennett (12) looks on during Tuesday’s Weiser Volleyball Jamboree in Weiser. Weiser and Payette have high expectations in 2007 after successful seasons a year ago. |
Weiser - The Weiser volleyball squad finished one game shy of a state berth in 2006 and in 2007 are starting from square one.
The Wolverines lost six seniors to graduation, lost their head coach Ramir Rodriguez and welcome in longtime freshman coach Chris Courter.
Gone is first-team all-Snake River Valley player and SRV senior all-star Sara Martin. Martin tallied 81 digs, 59 kills, 15 service aces and six blocks. First-team all conference setter and runner-up for the SRV’s Most Valuable Player Award Christa Tolman is also gone to graduation. Tolman racked up 153 assists, 16 digs, 11 kills and five service aces during her senior campaign. The Wolverines also will be without the services of Natalie Wilkins and opposite hitter Katie Way.
Youth will be served for the Wolverines, who welcomes back senior hitter Lizzy Hullinger (5’5”) and middle hitter Nicole Edwards (6’1”) along with fellow senior Jessie Fuller (5’3”).
Edwards, who was a second-team all-conference selection, chalked up 35 kills, 20 digs, 19 blocks and 15 service aces as a junior, her first year as a varsity starter.
Courter has set high expectations for the three seniors, who display leadership qualities for the young squad.
“We have three returning starters and Nicole probably has the most experience and the others have just been working hard,” Courter said. “They are going to fill in and take over the leadership of this team. They have been doing a good job.”
Courter brings with her a wealth of experience and has successful track record at the freshman level, where she guided her squads to five Snake River Valley Conference championships in the past seven years.
Ana Overgaard (6’1”), Carlie Palmer (6’0”), Meredith Clark (5’11”), Mary Lancaster (5’10), Liz Richins (5’8”), Bernadette Moore (5’5”) and McKatee Mason (5’3”) make up a solid core of juniors, who played one year with Courter and enjoyed a successful sophomore season with John Hullinger.
“We have a taller team, which we normally don’t have,” Courter said. “They are learning more about the game, using a lot more covering and now they just have to hit the ball. They are progressing really well. I am very pleased.”
After Tuesday’s Weiser Volleyball Jamboree, Courter is optimistic her team, which went 3-1 on the night, will meet her high expectations.
“I always have high expectations and we will always strive to surpass any expectations,” Courter said. “To see them do that is amazing. Being a younger team, they have to realize that volleyball is much like chess, you have to think three moves ahead. So they are learning that they have to mix up their sets and work on their passing. I expect them to bring their game up to the varsity level and hopefully we do really well. They are big strong group up to this point.”
The Wolverines kick off regular season play with a road date against New Plymouth Tuesday and start SRV play at McCall-Donnelly Sept. 11. Weiser travels to Payette Sept. 18 and hits the road against Fruitland Sept. 25.
Alma wrote on Aug 28, 2009 8:22 PM:
Im so very proud of you, you did AMAZING!! Yet still very young and have years to improve, which seems scary. I know grandpa was cheering for you, chanting #1, #1... Keep up the great work kido. "