Thursday, August 27, 2009 10:38 AM CDT
Lady Trojans set to disprove doubters
BY BRIAN NIELSEN, Sports Editor
bnielsen@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON -- Go ahead, disrespect this Charleston volleyball team.
The Lady Trojans might just feed off that.
“The fact we lost a big senior class, the expectations are down, not necessarily for me or the girls but the public,” coach Beth Anne Lancaster said. “That’s an awesome situation to be in.
“We sat down and set some goals, so in that respect the pressure is on.”
Looking for its first winning season in three years, Charleston is not denying that some good players have to be replaced heading into Tuesday’s season opener at home against Cumberland.
All-Apollo Conference Stephanie Harper, who led last year’s team with 176 kills, 186 digs and 52 blocks, is most notable among six graduating seniors from a 12-16 season.
“Those are some good shoes to fill,” Lancaster said. “She led our team in nearly every stat and was one of the best players in the (Apollo) Conference.”
Charleston still has a two-time All-Apollo selection in 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter Emily Rose.
Five-foot-eight senior middle blocker Brittany O’Dell, 5-8 senior outside hitter Alex Werden and 5-9 junior middle hitter Brianna Roy-Rankin are the other main hitters. O’Dell is back playing volleyball after concentrating on club soccer last fall.
Their setter is senior Brandi Coffey, who after leading the Lady Trojans with 224 assists last year may take on an even bigger role.
“We’ve played a 6-2 in the past,” Lancaster said. “This year she is going to play all the way around. We’re going to play a 5-1. It’s going to be a little more pressure on her because she’s the be-all, end-all. I’m confident she’ll do the best she can.”
Still, these sets and attacks are far from the whole story for Charleston.
“Losing Steph as an offensive player, I think we’ll make up for that on the defensive end,” Lancaster said. “That’s really been our focus in practice and this summer. I think we saw last year if we don’t have defense and don’t have passing, it doesn’t matter if you have the best player in the conference.
Sophomores Kenzie Eveland and Sam Hogue are to split time as back-row defensive specialists while the outside hitters Werden and Rose also have shown the ability to be good passers.
Help is also expected from junior right side hitters Savannah Esarey and Lacee Beabout while junior Hannah Stear adds front row depth on the outside.
The backup setter is sophomore Caitlin Wend, who is to play junior varsity and also see some reserve varsity action.
Mixing the new varsity players with the returnees began this summer when the Lady Trojans placed second in a tournament at St. Louis and high in the championship bracket in a tourney at Lake Land.
In addition, Lancaster has seen strides taken by Rose, O’Dell and Coffey who worked out this under the coaching of Team Body Club’s Jim DiNaso.
“Jim DiNaso has turned them into athletes,” Lancaster said. “I wish my whole team went to him.”
Regardless, the volleyball coach sings praises for this team as she enters her third year as head coach after serving one season as an assistant to Steve Pamperin.
“In the four years I’ve been at Charleston this is hands down the hardest working group of girls I’ve had,” Lancaster said. “I just hope we have the talent to go with it.
“The same girls showed up every day. They’re a very coachable group of girls.”
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.
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