THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 1994 TAG: 9409090299
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
They came, they saw, they learned how to play.
In last year's inaugural season of Beach District volleyball, teams shook out into two categories: the haves, and the have-nots. A school either won most of its games or lost most, and there didn't seem to be much of an in-between.
But after a summer in which many players honed their skills at volleyball camps, the competition should be a little more even.
Expect Kempsville to be one of the teams at the top. The Chiefs finished first during the regular season with a 15-1 record, and were runner-up in the district tournament. Coach Kara Dawson lost two starters, but had her choice of replacements when 35 girls showed up for tryouts.
``We were practicing 4-5 hours a day before school started, and the kids worked so hard in the off-season at camps,'' Dawson said. ``Last year we just had to focus on teaching them how to play.''
Taking the place of graduated setter Rachel Hall is sophomore Emerald Zemedcum, who is doing ``a wonderful job'' according to Dawson. Senior captains Faline Phucas and Jen Rogers anchor the offense, along with juniors Sara Horton, Bess Miller, and Kelley Sisey.
``We've got girls that hit extremely well, and girls that set well,'' said Dawson. ``Now we just need to get everything to come together.''
Neck and neck with Kempsville is First Colonial, which defeated the Chiefs in the district final and finished second in the Eastern Region. Although coach Harry Pincus only returns four players (junior Courtney Munn and sophomores Alija Pittenger, Kaszia Campos, and Katie Donlin), he expects the Patriots to be as talented as last year.
``It's a little difficult to say how we'll do because we haven't faced any teams yet,'' Pincus said. ``You don't know your strengths and weaknesses until you start playing. Right now I'm just putting them in positions.''
Over at Cox, coach Claire LeBlanc was more than a little overwhelmed when 45 girls showed up for tryouts. She kept 18.
Although Cox lost All-Beach player Elisha Bell, LeBlanc hopes to fill any offensive gaps with senior Laura Baldwin (the Falcons' most experienced player) and sophomore setter Catherine Dunford. Both play in the Tidewater Volleyball Association.
Kyla Ward, Alison Foy, Joan Caffrey and Kim Rivers are all returners who will see starting time.
``We'd like to move into a higher finish in the district, and I think that's realistic,'' said LeBlanc. Cox finished third last year with a 12-4 record. ``This year we want to be more aggressive and attack more often. . . We've changed our program to allow us to do that.''
Rookie coach Rick Conaway has taken over at Green Run and says the Stallions are ``progressing steadily. A few of the players have good skills and all the others are learning quickly. They'll be good players in the future.''
Half of Green Run's players return from last year, including seniors Elena Paseilo and Melissa Dunn, junior Julia Powers and sophomore Megan Snyder.
Kellam has the unenviable task of replacing star Latisha Brewer, who is at Liberty University on a volleyball scholarship. Over half of coach Brenda Fuller's team is made up of freshmen, so senior setter Stephanie Mederios will be counted on to provide a steadying influence.
The Knights also have a trio of juniors who hope to improve on Kellam's 4-12 mark last season - district honorable mention Corinne Scott, Christy Maurice and Laura Bleakley.
``At any given time, on any day, any team can be beat,'' said Fuller. ``We're going to play one game at a time, one point at a time.''
At Bayside, coach Gary Cason has a relatively straightforward goal - improve upon a 3-13 record. Without top hitter Nicole Fredericks (who graduated) and second team All-Beach player Dee Schultz (out with an injury suffered in softball season), bettering their record might be a difficult task for the Marlins.
``I'm impressed with the overall attitude of the girls,'' said Cason, who returns six players. ``They understand the game much better and have played well in the scrimmages.''
Returning starters Brandy Elley, Dionne Paniza and Michelle Williams will be joined by 5-foot-11 newcomer Monica Matthews, a senior on the Bayside girls basketball team.
According to Princess Anne coach Steve Halstead, ``anything we do this year is an improvement.'' The Cavaliers finished dead last in the district with a 2-14 record.
Jessica Rhyan, last year's team MVP, and Danielle Wozniel played Junior Olympic volleyball over the summer and should be much improved. Halstead is also counting on back row specialists Amy Hayde and Kristin Travers to provide leadership.
The unknown quality in the district will be the new kids at Ocean Lakes, although several of the Dolphins' players come from established programs.
Seniors Missy Newby and Stacey Hux came over from Green Run, and sophomore McKeesha Tam is a former First Colonial player. Having the benefit of transfers has been helpful to coach Traci Allgor in the preseason.
``They know what team spirit is, and they have high morale,'' she said. ``We use them to demonstrate the drills to the other players.''
Coaches at Salem and Tallwood did not return calls for this story. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by CHARLIE MEADS
The First Colonial High girls volleyball team, which finished second
in the Eastern Region last year, practices setting up a shot at the
net.
First Colonial High volleyball player Avery Willis leaps off the
floor to hit the ball toward the net during practice.
KEYWORDS: BEACH DISTRICT GIRLS VOLLEYBALL by CNB