With the girls volleyball season already underway at skyline i thought i would post this here as it will be published in the Skyline Horizon but not until a 3 weeks into this season. So enjoy this here and check out some more of my pieces in The Horizon when it is released.
Last year was Skyline girls volleyball’s year, with a record of 38-0 in the regular season and took third in state after losing an intense game to Timpview in five sets. It was a fantastic year overall for this team. However, there was collateral damage as there is in every major high school sport as the Eagles lost 9 of their senior players last year. This year the void left by those seniors must be filled by up and coming juniors like Hannah Stephens as there are only 2 returning varsity players this year. This team however is confident that they can do much more than fill that void.
Skylines season starts with practices a week before school starts, just a month before games with so much to cover the team has a class period devoted to practice. Practices start with a run around Skylines track and warm up setting, spiking and serving drills. But the best way to get better? Maddie Bradshaw says scrimmaging. “We scrimmage for most of the practice just so we can improve our skills through playing” The method seems to work as the team is projected to be one of the best in there division this year.
How does this team improve from 38-0? The better question is how do they repeat that? Bradshaw thinks it’s a matter of chemistry, and this team should certainly have that. Most of the varsity players played on a club team together over the summer. How does this team get along of the court? “even after a tough loss once we get off the floor we are all best friends again” says Emma Baliff. Considering this team had so much great chemistry on and off the court last year it is crucial that it happens again to win a state championship, the ultimate goal of Captains Baliff and Bradshaw. The Eagles play in a weaker division but the most challenging team they will have to face this year is Murray a team that almost beat them last year.
Although this team lost nine seniors make no mistake there is no lack of talent. Cameron Mooney and Hannah Stephens have the supreme confidence of their senior team mates. “Cameron is one the most talented volleyball players I have ever seen” said a team mate. The highest praise was for Hannah Stephens though. “one of the best athletes overall I’ve ever seen”, “the quickest reflexes on the court”. Stephens plays the position of libero, which is a point guard of the volleyball court. Stephens will have large shoes to fill, specifically her sisters.
All that being said, despite the excellence of the lady Eagles, they are one of the least watched teams in the school. “I mean friends and family show up but they (the nest) don’t really show up” said Baliff. A shocker especially considering how good this team could be and how good they were last year.
