THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 1996 TAG: 9609170433
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 39 lines
A funny thing happened when Megan Snyder decided she wanted to play softball.
She discovered volleyball.
As a 10-year-old, Snyder wanted to play softball in the recreation league at Virginia Beach. But she found it was out of season and volleyball was in progress in the Plaza Rec League. So Megan took up volleyball instead.
Since then, the 17-year-old Snyder has made volleyball her primary sports interest, hopefully playing at a caliber that might gain her a college athletic scholarship upon her June graduation from Churchland. She's also hoping James Madison University is noticing her achievements.
Last week Snyder, who transferred from Green Run after her sophomore year, sparked Churchland to back-to-back victories over Maury and Booker T. Washington, the Eastern District's two top-ranked teams in the in the preseason.
The 5-7 Snyder, who manages to divide her after-school hours between volleyball and band practice (she's the drum majorette), scored 14 of Churchland's 30 total points against Maury and had five aces on serves, three kills and a block. Against Booker T. she scored six points in one match with four aces, three kills and a pair of blocked shots.
``More than the stats, her presence on the floor is the pick-up that triggers our team,'' said Churchland coach Bobbi Conrad. A vocal team leader, Snyder completely lost her voice after the Maury game.
``I scream a lot,'' she explained.
The setter in Churchland's 6-2 offense, Snyder is team co-captain. She's leading an undefeated team that managed only a 7-8 record a year ago.
``I'm excited,'' said Snyder. ``I guess these two wins mean we're one of the teams to reckon with.'' ILLUSTRATION: Megan Snyder by CNB