ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996 TAG: 9605300025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Community Sports
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
The formative years of an athletic program are often filled with disheartening losses and hopes for a better day.
A better day arrived sooner than expected for the New River Valley Juniors 18-and-under Jupiter club volleyball team. Apparently, Jupiter members were unaware dues are supposed to be paid before glory is gained.
Despite having operated for only four years, the team recently captured the Old Dominion Region title and qualified for the Junior Olympics national championships.
"For us to qualify for the nationals after only four seasons is great and it says a lot about the kids,'' NRV Juniors director David Simon said. "We never really expected this so quickly.''
The team defeated top-seeded RVC Magnitude (Richmond) in the Old Dominion semifinals, then knocked off No.2 Coastal Virginia (Chesapeake) in three games for the title.
With the regional victory, NRV Jupiter will join 47 other regional winners in San Jose, Calif., for the national championships June 29-July 2.
"Going to San Jose will be a huge catalyst for the entire Juniors program,'' Simon said. "It legitimizes you as a program. We already have a high participation level in the area, but this should even bring out more players and build a greater interest in volleyball in the area.''
The team, coached by Patrick Henry High School coach Marty Swann, is made up of 10 high school standouts from central and western Virginia, seven of whom will be playing college volleyball next season.
"For the girls that are playing college ball next year, this will give them a chance to play against the best before starting there,'' Simon said. "For the three underclassmen, this is a great chance to be seen by recruiters.''
Team members include Patrick Henry's Kris Carter, Rebecca Hogan, Genae Kent and Allison Suggs, Jefferson Forest's Sue Clements and Nicole Power, Meghann Morris (Brookville), Kerri Peaks (Cave Spring), Mandi Bishop (Glenvar) and Kristin Wright (Gretna).
Clements, Hogan and Suggs were named to the Old Dominion region's all-tournament team.
Jupiter wasn't the only team within the NRV Juniors program with a strong showing in the Old Dominion regionals as the NRV Juniors 16-and-under team, NRV Neptune placed third. Only the regional winners advance to the national championships.
Cave Spring's Lindsay Cannon and Jenny Lemker were named to the division's all-tournament squad from NRV Neptune.
Despite the recent success, Simon maintains the program's focus remains on instruction and development, not victory at all costs.
"We haven't turned around and gone hard core because of this,'' Simon said. "Of course winning raises the expectations of everyone involved, but we're still here to develop volleyball players in the area.''
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB