ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602230028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-12 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
It has been said you can't go home again, but Blacksburg High School senior April Rogers will attempt to do just that in this weekend's Group AA Region IV volleyball tournament.
Rogers and the rest of the Indians will take on Gate City and Jasmine Rogers, April's cousin, in the regional semifinals if they can first knock off Tazewell in the tournament's opening round.
"I've been waiting to play Gate City forever, and now I have my chance," Rogers said. "Gate City is my father's hometown, and my cousin plays there. This is a big deal for me, and the team knows it."
Rogers said the possible Blacksburg-Gate City matchup has become so hyped that the hometown papers have already printed stories about the possible clash of cousins.
"It's going to be a packed gym, because a lot of people are looking forward to the game," Rogers said. "Gate City isn't like Blacksburg. It doesn't have Virginia Tech. The high school is pretty much all there is, and a lot of people support it."
Blacksburg players insist that even though they are looking forward to playing Gate City, they are not looking past Tazewell.
"We're preparing to beat Gate City, but in doing so, we have already prepared to play Tazewell," Indian setter Jill Johnson said. "Tazewell is good, but Gate City is on another level. If we practice for them, we can handle Tazewell."
According to Blacksburg coach Suzie Schneider, if the Indians are to return to the state tournament for the second straight year, they must remain fixed on the task at hand.
"Tazewell must come first," Schneider said. "Without a win, there is no Gate City and no shot at going to the state tournament. With all we've been through this year - two broken ankles, the flu, some tough losses - we've done a good job of staying focused. We need to continue that in the regionals."
Injuries have played a major role in the Indians' 8-7 overall record (3-3 in the New River District) and have left Schneider's squad with just one healthy setter - Johnson.
"We're prepared and can handle having only one setter," Schneider said. "Jill has overcome injuries this year and to her credit, never has a bad match. That's a great compliment for a setter."
A tough nondistrict schedule also contributed to Blacksburg's substandard regular-season record, but early season losses to Blue Ridge District powers Salem and William Byrd have prepared the Indians for the rigors of tournament play.
"The teams we played at the beginning of the season have made us a better team already," senior middle hitter Catherine Koebel said. "We learned how to play tougher teams, and because of those games, we're peaking right now. We're ready for the regionals."
For the senior trio, the 1996 Region IV tournament marks their final opportunity to make the state tournament.
"We know what it feels like to be there, and for us, it's our last chance," Rogers said. "Sometimes it's hard to make the younger players on a team want it as bad as you do, but this team is different. It wants to go on."
"Blacksburg is such a powerhouse in so many sports because of the pride we have here," Johnson said. "You look at the banners on the walls at other schools, and they are mostly district titles. Here, the banners are all state titles. It would be great to have one up there that said, 'Volleyball - 1996 State Champions.'''
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Alan Kim. Blacksburg High School volleyball playersby CNBApril Roger (with ball), Catherine Koebel (left) and Jill Johnson
(back) with coach Suzie Schneider.