Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994 TAG: 9411030019
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Yes, she already has one, but she'll gladly accept another.
``I'm due Nov. 3,'' said Williams, in her ninth season as PH coach. ``That's the date of the district finals.''
Although the Patriots breezed through the RVD last fall with a 10-0 mark, and advanced to the Northwest Regional semifinals, they lost six seniors to graduation.
Since high school volleyball rules call for six positions, one might assume that this season could be a rebuilding year for Patrick Henry. Not so.
The 1994 squad, 3-1 going into Tuesday night's match against Franklin County, may be just as strong as the 1993 club. PH seems to have the athletic ability, the attitude and the savvy to repeat as district champs.
Patrick Henry lost an early match this year to Albemarle, but has beaten Gar-Field, E.C. Glass, and Pulaski County. The Patriots crushed the Cougars 15-1, 15-3, 15-2 last Thursday in a match that only lasted about 45 minutes.
``I'm fortunate to have this team to coach,'' said Williams, herself a former PH volleyball player who graduated in 1982. ``They want to be here. Academically, they're very challenged. It's nice to have smart athletes; they understand what we're trying to do.''
The Patriots are led by senior Ayisha Whitenack and juniors Becca Hogan and Carrie Moore. Whitenack and Hogan are outside hitters, while Moore is known as a defensive specialist. All three attend the Governor's School, as do seven other members of the team.
``We play as a team,'' Hogan said. ``We have all-round good players who get along well with each other.''
``I think our strength is that when we have problems we know how to talk about them,'' said Whitenack, co-captain of the team, and one of the best passers in the district.
Williams sees another reason PH has been dominant in recent seasons. ``They play almost year round,'' Williams said. ``The entire team played Junior Olympics from February through May, most of them were in summer leagues, and then they play for PH from August through November.''
``Some teams wait until August to start.''
Although the Patriots have several advantages, size is not one of them. Hogan and Whitenack are 5-6 and 5-5, respectively, while Moore stands 5-3. ``Cave Spring and Franklin County always have several six-footers,'' Williams noted.
The Patriots combat any height deficiencies with strategy, passing, court-sense, and pure athleticism. Whitenack and Moore were chosen first-team all-Timesland in soccer last spring.
Whitenack hopes to enroll at Virginia Tech next fall. ``I want to play volleyball for Tech like my coach [Williams] did,'' Whitenack said.
Moore, who starts as a basketball point guard, is a three-sport performer.
``Carrie is a very talented individual athlete,'' Williams said, ``but as a team player, she doesn't come off as arrogant. In fact, she's almost too humble.''
It's hard to be humble when you're as good as the Patrick Henry girls volleyball program, but Franklin County could test the Patriots this season, Williams said.
``Franklin County didn't lose anybody from last year's team,'' she said. ``They have to be considered the favorites - until we beat them.''
by CNB