Thursday, August 20, 2009 11:37 AM CDT
Robertson to lead Tri-County volleyball
By MIKE MONAHAN, Staff Writer
mmonahan@jg-tc.com
OAKLAND -- Drew Robertson was hoping to coach at the high school level this year after he resigned from his Cumberland job, where he led the Lady Pirates to a school-best third-place finish in the IHSA Class 1A state volleyball tournament last year. Robertson resigned as he accepted a teaching job at Decatur Eisenhower (teaching business).
Now the Oakland resident is embarking on his first year at Tri-County. Robertson, who has a career record of 144-35 (.804), all at Cumberland, replaces Sarah Ritchey (went back to college), who in four years finished with a 102-40 (.718) including two regional championships and a 30-5 record last year, the best in the five years of existence.
“I am excited for the season,” said Robertson. “The kids are committed to getting better. I think we are determined that we are going to win, and I think the girls are going to do whatever it takes to meet that goal especially as the season goes along. I think we will be a good defensive team and a good hitting team, especially as the year goes on. I think we have a good serving team, and I think we will have a good player at every position.”
Returning from last year are three letter winners Sadie Baird, Hillary Stiff and Emma Getche. Getche averaged 2.2 kills, 0.6 aces and 3.0 digs per game
Among the players the Lady Titans lost from last season, one that saw Tri-County win 20 straight matches, were Chelsee Blair, Knisie Knox, Melanie Clapp and Dana Fasnacht, along with Brittany Carrel. Blair and Knox were first-team all-LOVC players for Ritchey, a 2000 graduate of Kansas and former Lake Land volleyball player. Knox was second in the area in kills with 3.4 per game, while Blair led the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier area in assists with an average of eight per contest.
“Our hitting and our defense are gong to be our strength,” said Roberston. “Hillary Stiff is to be the setter, while Emma Getche and Sadie Baird are going to have to be a big part of our offense, especially early in the year. Lindsey Apple (junior) hits the ball pretty well and may be on the right side. Some freshmen stand out as well in Kyla Skinner, who is very athletic, and I think she will help us. Amber Meyer is a setter who has a positive impact on the team. Ami Meyer has a chance to play libero for us. (Amber, Ami and Autumn Meyer are triplets on the team). Sophomores Emily Warner and Katie Shaffer can help us during the course of the season. Lacie Dague and Kathleen White (juniors) are both middles.”
Four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen are on the roster of 16.
“I know they didn’t have a freshman class last year, so it is good we actually have a sophomore class,” said Robertson. “I am used to small classes. I have had senior classes of two or no seniors. You have who you have and you just play volleyball.”
The team practices from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as Robertson drives from Decatur. Assisting Robertson is Whitney Washburn, a 2006 graduate of Kansas, who played on the Lady Titans first regional championship in 2005.
“We are working on blocking,” said Robertson. “We are working on better defensive transition also. Volleyball is such a timing game, and if you don’t have that, you don’t have anything. If we can get our middles to a higher level by the end of the year that will help us immensely. If we can get our blocking up to a higher level that will help us immensely.”
Tri-County is the defending Little Okaw Valley Conference regular season and tournament champions and has always had at least 20 wins in its existence.
“The players expect to win,” said Robertson. “The coaches expect to win. The administration expects us to win. The communities expect us to win and we are going to do that. I think a good place to start for most teams is to win conference and win a regional and that is our goal. From there you get in games and you play volleyball and you see what happens. The most you can ask for as a coach or as a team is to have that opportunity, that game to win a regional, a sectional, a super-sectional — to be in that game and experience the game and find out who is better. I don’t mind losing, as long as you learn from it.”
As for Cumberland, Robertson said, “I sill root for Cumberland as long as we don’t play them.”
The Lady Titans are on the road the first four games and seven of the first eight, not including tournaments at Newton and Arcola. Tri-County has only six home games (three at Oakland and three at Kansas). The first match is set for Aug. 31 at Effingham St. Anthony.
Contact Mike Monahan at mmonahan@jg-tc.com or 238-6854.
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