LEWISBURG — First-year coach Melissa Wilson-Stockwell looks for improvement in theTri-County North volleyball team, which went 6-15 last year.
Having coached elsewhere for eight years, she looks to bring her experience to the program.
“I am coming to the team from Oakwood, said Wilson-Stockwell. “I would like to see the girls grow and show their maturity while having fun doing it. If kids are having fun, they will get the most out of whatever it is they are doing.”
Four players return for the 2016 season. Junior Cassie Stinson is one of those four lettermen.
“We’ve been conditioning a lot in the open gym over the summer,” said Stinson. “We’ve been focusing on having fun and doing our thing. Being one of the returning players, the expectations are hard because I have been playing varsity since I’ve been a freshman. I just have to keep up my game to help lead the younger players.”
Sarah Harris is an outside hitter. Kayla McGee is another senior outsider.
Harris is a returning starter — and one of only three seniors on the team — who is looking to make strides for a winning season.
“I was a captain last year, so I have some experience in that,” said Harris. “I want us to do well and everyone work to hard.”
Kaila McGee is another letter winner and senior.
“Last year was rough, so I want this season to be so much better,” McGee said. “We had new coaches all four years during my career so that’s been really hard to deal with.”
Senior Addie Pahl, and junior letterman Gracie Douglas, looks to put a positive season together.
Other varsity players include junior Megan Pohling and sophomores Riley Cruise, Jasmine McAdams, and Taylor Schumacher.
Nine players will fill the JV roster, but due to having only nine players on varsity, some may easily get bumped up to play varsity. Th JV team includes sophomores Shayanna Baker, Faith Estep, Abby Rupp, and freshmen Megan Dennison, Allie Douglas, Emma Hale, Alexis Heck, Avery Shank, and Lacy Wolfe.
“I am a very hands-on type of coach,” said coach Wilson-Stockwell. “I like to do a lot of demonstrations myself — I still have a passion for volleyball and my coaching style shares that passion.A couple of upperclassmen are ready to take the floor and are willing to help out the underclassmen. We just separated teams about a week ago, so we are looking for some leadership.
“The team chemistry is amazing so far and we are getting a transfer from another school, so I’m eager to see how the team gels.”
Tri-County North opens the season with the first two games at home, Tuesday, Aug.23, against Troy Christian, and Thursday, Aug. 25, against Brookville. Saturday, Aug. 27, is a trip to the Darke County Tournament at Mississinawa Valley.
