High hopes for senior-led Tigers volleyball team in '04

Monday, August 30, 2004
Ashley Beckett works on her jump serve at practice. Beckett and the rest of the Nevada Tigers are aiming for a district title this season.

First four matches at home this season

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

With the 2004 season on the horizon, Nevada High School volleyball coach Sharla Wilkerson is ready to go.

"Let's play somebody," Wilkerson said.

The coach said that after a summer of pre-season preparation and three weeks of official practice, the team was ready to compete against new faces in a different colored uniform.

Wilkerson is also excited to see what the season holds for a team that is rich in senior leadership and experience.

"We know we're ready for competition," Wilkerson said. "Our biggest thing is just getting through practices and getting to the game."

The team is pushing forward with five seniors on the squad, all with starting varsity experience from last season. Considering that six athletes are on the court at one time, the Tigers should have an experience edge over every team they play.

The lone projected starter without varsity experience is sophomore Brittany Crockett.

Wilkerson said having so many players that have been through the vigors of a varsity campaign is, "a huge plus."

In addition, the Tigers were really competitive last season. Everything seems to be falling into place for the squad.

"We had a good team last year, but we struggled with team effort," Wilkerson said. "These girls are gung-ho and ready to go."

Wilkerson said that in-fighting caused the team to break down as the season progressed in 2003. She said the players spent more time rivaling each other that the team was put on the back-burner.

"It devastated the team last year," she said.

This year the players are getting along much better and the team should reap the benefits.

"It's been going really well," Wilkerson said.

Webb City is the defending conference champions, but the Tigers know what to expect when they play them this season, having seen them this summer.

Wilkerson does not see any reason why the Tigers can't win the conference title this season.

"Everybody is pretty competitive," she said. "There is not one team that is above everybody else."

That is not the case when it comes to district play. The Tigers and the rest of the district have been looking up at Pleasant Hill the past few years and Wilkerson said this might be the team to unseat the defending district champions.

She said the players are looking forward to the district matchup when the Tigers travel to Pleasant Hill on Sept. 20.

"They have that date circled on their calendars," Wilkerson said.

The players can't afford to look ahead though because they need to take care of business at home before they can focus on Pleasant Hill.

The Tigers have their first four matches of the season at home. They open against Joplin College Heights on Tuesday and they host Harrisonville, Carthage and Diamond over the next two weeks all in the friendly confines of their home court.

That should give the Tigers a head of steam as they visit Willard for a tournament on Sept. 11.

After that the Tigers have a home match against McDonald County, then travel to Neosho.

All of that takes place before their trip to Pleasant Hill.

The projected varsity starters include seniors Ashley Beckett and Hillary Adams as the setters.

The outside hitters will be Veronica Mosier and Wendi Jones. Both Mosier and Jones are also seniors.

Senior Lacy Leonard and Crockett will be the middle blockers.

Also expected to see action in the varsity uniform is junior Mandi Gash and sophomores Ashleigh Bryson, Bethany Brower, Amanda Wilson and Kaitlin Holland.

Those five players are also going to play on the junior varsity to gain more experience.

Also on the junior varsity to start the season will be Kellie Cooper, Desiree' Stacy, Angel Claypool, Elizabeth Bain, Ashley Eaton, Andrea Ast, Stephanie Wilson, Katelin Lamb, Katelin Gullett and Abby McCoy.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: