Greencastle volleyball begins

Friday, August 15, 2014
Greencastle's Taylor Stoltey sets up Quinci Miller for a spike during a practice Wednesday.(Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Greencastle's volleyball team has a second year coach, optimistic players and high expectations. The team made it to the sectional quarter-finals a year ago and having won county last season, the team looks to improve in where it finishes this year.

"Their main goal right now is to win conference," coach Maggie Walters said. Last year we came close. They're not satisfied with that, which is great with me. So their goal is conference."

Last season the team sported a record of 17-13 and its goal early was to have a winning record this year. Walters thinks that the team's growing ambitions could spark improvements.

The JV team scrimmaged the varsity during a wednesday practice. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Walters believes that the tougher teams that the team will see this season are toward the beginning of the schedule.

"We have some good completion, especially when we get into sectionals," she said. "We will see some really tough teams. We see those teams at the beginning of the season, but then we don't see them again until the very end. So from the beginning to end of the season we're usually a completely different team. It's hard to decide what team we are going to be in sectionals, at this point."

A schedule like that could be the reason Walters is concentrating on focus, when it comes to practices.

Olivia Devine goes up for a spike during practice. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Greencastle is returning several players who made a great deal of difference on the team.

"Sometimes, when you get into the third and fourth set in the game, they lose focus," Walters said." So right now we are just trying to make sure that they can stay focused for the entirety of the game. If it goes to five sets, they'll have to stay focused the whole time or we are not going to win games."

The volleyball season starts for all Putnam County teams this week and the Greencastle coaching staff is hoping to prepare its team for its first match at Tri-West on Monday.

"Our strengths right now are passing," Walters said. "We've got to work on getting our hitters connecting with our setters more. But our passing looks great which is huge for us."

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: