DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9711010316

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 16   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   74 lines

INDIAN RIVER RELOADED WITH RAW TALENT WITH ONLY TWO RETURNING STARTERS, THE BRAVES HAVE MADE A RETURN TO THE REGION PLAYOFFS.

THE FIRST SET was nearly over, and top-seeded Indian River was on its heels, trailing 13-7 to Deep Creek in the semifinals of the Southeastern District girls volleyball tournament last Tuesday.

``We had the jitters,'' Indian River coach Linda Rice said. ``We remember what happened last year.''

A year ago, the Braves went into the district tournament as the top seeds and were ousted by Great Bridge in the final. This time, Rice's squad, would not allow Deep Creek to register an upset.

Indian River scored the match's next 17 points to sweep Deep Creek 15-13, 15-4 and advance to last Thursday's final against third-seeded Great Bridge.

``The score scared us,'' Indian River sophomore hitter Stacy Hammond said of the early deficit.

And the Braves' ability to seemingly turn it on anytime they want should scare opponents.

``They've done that about two or three times this year,'' Rice said of the team scoring in bunches.

The season didn't seem this promising when it began.

Rice, in her sixth year, only had two starters returning - junior Christine Marable and sophomore Lisa Maholchic. She also had no seniors. But despite the lack of high school playing time, Rice had a load of experience on her side.

Seven of her athletes played for the Tidewater Volleyball Association this year. All of the current Braves consistently participated in open gym this summer and received instruction from various college coaches.

When practice started in August, the team ran two miles a day beginning at 6 a.m. Since the start of classes in September, the team continued with running and weight-lifting before practice - even if Rice, who works at Indian River Middle School, arrived late.

``Never a complaint,'' Rice said.

Early on, Rice knew she could rely on Maholchic at hitter. After that, almost every other position was iffy.

Junior Lisa Myers, who was one of many reserves last year, showed tremendous improvement this season and earned a spot at hitter.

Marable, a defensive specialist last season, took over as a setter this year. She leads the team in kills (123) and digs (71). The biggest additions, though, were Hammond and fellow sophomore Shanell Morelli.

Both players, who had little playing time as freshmen, showed tremendous improvement during the summer and earned starting positions as hitters this season.

``You wait your turn because you know it will pay off,'' said Morelli, who has 51 digs and 35 assists.

And it has.

The Braves charged out of the gate and won their first 13 district matches before being upset by Nansemond River in the regular-season finale. The loss didn't prevent Indian River from winning its third straight regular-season crown, the fourth under Rice.

``This team works as a team and that's why were successful,'' Rice said. ``It's not one or two people.''

The Braves (14-3) don't have one dominant player like Great Bridge's Melissa Morgan or Deep Creek's Heather Niedermeier - All-Tidewater performers last season. It's Marable, who has 271 assists, in the middle setting up Maholchic, Myers or Morelli for the spike. Or the 5-foot-8 Hammond charging to the net to dump over a dink.

``I just look at the court and see a hole so that's where I put it,'' said Hammond, who has 76 kills and 48 assists.

The Eastern Region tournament begins Tuesday at Tallwood. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by HUY NGUYEN

Indian River volleyball coach Linda Rice is mobbed by her players

after the semifinal victory over Deep Creek.

Indian River junior Christine Marable, left, and sophomore Lisa

Maholchic, were the only returning starters for the Braves.

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