Fruitland volleyball ready to say the “S” word
Lady Grizzlies to face Priest River in opening round of 3A state volleyball tournament Friday
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
scottf@argusobserver.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 10:07 AM PDT
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| Argus Observer file photo
Fruitland’s Justine Bates (2) tips the ball over the net during the SRV District 3 volleyball tournament, while teammate Jarica Martarano (10) looks on. Fruitland swept through the SRV with a perfect mark and will now compete in the 2009 3A state tournament, which will take place Friday and Saturday in Coeur d’Alene. The Lady Grizzlies will face Priest River in the opening game at 11:30 a.m. Friday. A win and they will play at 6:45 p.m. against the winner of the Kimberly/Shelly match. |
Fruitland—All season long the Fruitland Grizzly volleyball team had yet to mention the word state, but now the girls are ready to shout it from the top of their lungs that they are state-bound.
Fruitland head coach Rena Sitz took over a program that graduated seven seniors, and she knew going into this season was going to be a challenge.
“Our goal was to prepare for one point, one team and one game at a time,” Sitz said. “At the beginning of the season, we decided not to say the word state out loud. In the past, our goal was always to make the state tournament.”
Fruitland rolled through the Snake River Valley Conference with a perfect record and finished the season with 30 wins and eight losses.
With a team that boasts five seniors, a junior and two freshmen, the Lady Grizzlies got the job done and will now embark on chasing down a title.
“We are not a one-dimensional team,” Sitz said. “In the past we have had some great weapons, but this year we wanted to represent the true meaning of team. Our strength is our team.”
The five seniors, Sarah and Chelsea McGinley, Dani Cuellar, Hailey Felgenhauer and Elena Solis, have led the team all season and Sitz said they have really embraced on the concept of team.
“There were so many people who did not think we could make it to the state tournament this year,” Sitz said. “But this team has so much talent, heart and discipline, they deserve this so much.”
Sitz said playing in the SRV really prepared her team as well as playing up in classification.
“All the SRV teams had different strengths, and we had to combat that,” Sitz said. “And the 4A and 5A teams challenged us as well.”
Fruitland did not lose a single match this season to a 3A or 4A school.
Heading into the state tournament, Sitz said her message has remained the same, and that was to prepare hard every day.
The 2009 Lady Grizzlies adopted a new slogan to start the season, “New team, same dream.”
“We are going to take it one game at a time at the state tournament,” Sitz said. “That has been our approach all season, and we are not going to look past any team.”
Fruitland begins its championship quest against Priest River, the No. 2 seed from District 1-2 at 11:30 a.m. Friday in Coeur d’Alene.
