Volleyball team young, but ‘passionate’ about game

Ken Roberts

For The New Era

Sweet Home unveiled its young squad at the Val-Co Conference jamboree held at Central last Friday.

Head coach Debbie Danielson learned some things about her players as she mixed up her rotations, trying to find the strengths and weaknesses of the Huskies. But there were still many unanswered questions.

The Huskies opened with two wins in the single game matches, first against Philomath, 25-17, and then against Taft, 25-23. Central, the clear league favorite, dominated the Huskies as they did all other teams, 25-7. Sweet Home finished with the team they are most likely to battle for a playoff position, Newport. After a see-saw battle to 19, Newport went on a quick run to take the game, 25-20.

This year’s Sweet Home volleyball team may define the description of “young team.”

Danielson will certainly find herself in the role of teacher as much as in the role of coach. The team has one returning senior, Paige Niemi, who will be in her third year on varsity. Five other juniors with varsity experience will help form the foundation of the squad: outside hitter Sam Johnson, middle blockers, Hillary McCartin and Cassidy Sullivan, setter Alisha Huschka, and defensive specialist Tana Tyler.

The other half of the team includes two sophomores with JV experience, Tasha Saunders and Bayli Riggs, and four freshmen, Devyn Makin, Tiffany Miller, Emili Riggs, and Annie Whitfield. The growth of these players will certainly be a huge factor in the success of the team.

Danielson thinks that growth will come as they gain experience in the non-league matches and tournaments, partially because she has seen the newcomers up close in club ball.

“Some players just like to play, but these young players have a passion for the game,”

said Danielson. “I have never had a team that has improved so much.”

Defense will be the other major key to success. At the jamboree, the Huskies had a few errors in communication or anticipation that resulted in unplayed balls on the floor.

“We just need to get to every ball,” stated Danielson. “We need to have quicker reaction and adjust our angles.”

McCartin echoed the Huskies’ need to improve on defense.

“Everything starts with good passes,” she said, mentioning the good passing drills that they are using. “We are working on moving our feet to get to the ball.”

Defensive passes starts the offense and the Huskies struggled with consistency in positioning their passes to the setter to improve the chances being able to run designed plays. At this point, Danielson has chosen not to use a libero, a defensive player who can play back court full time. That may change with the most likely candidate to be Saunders or Tyler.

Danielson believes the hitters are ahead of schedule in their development. Niemi and

Johnson are the most consistent hitters, both in power and placement.

“We’ve been working hard on hitting,” said Johnson. “At the varsity team camp, they

showed us a lot of things that have helped.”

McCartin and Sullivan both supply blocking ability in the middle as well as being able to handle the quick set. Emili Riggs supplies power and Whitfield provides a quick active presence as hitters. Makin and Bayli Riggs are splitting time as right side hitters and middle blockers.

Danielson expects continued growth among the hitters in ball anticipation and retreat and approach angles to become more explosive at the net.

Huschka and Miller will be the setters in a 6-2 offense, which Danielson hopes will allow the Huskies to have a more varied offense with both short and long quick sets.

Overall, Danielson would like to speed up her offense.

Huschka and Miller both are working on knowing the strengths and placement for each of their hitters.

“It takes awhile,” said Huschka. “It gets confusing, but it will get better as we get the same rotations.”

One of the primary strengths of the Huskies is serving. At the jamboree, the Huskies missed very few serves.

As the lone senior, the bulk of the leadership role will be assumed by Niemi.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” Niemi noted. “Instead of sharing the job as role model, there is only one person to go to.”

Part of that role will be to guide and accept the inexperience of the younger players.

“They will need a lot of positive reminders,” said Niemi. “As a team, we have to remember that they haven’t been in this position before.”

Much of the season will be spent growing together as a team and learning to communicate on the floor. However, the Huskies, who see themselves as underdogs, want to show the rest of the league that they are contenders.

“I want people to know that we are winning,” McCartin emphasized. “That we are doing well. That we are working really hard.”

The most pressing detail for Danielson right now is to set her rotations.

“I’m not sure where the young ones are going to play,” said Danielson. “The players, as a whole, are going to have to fight for their positions.”

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