Volleyball looks to draw on senior know-how

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(GEORGE HUGHES/EYE OF THE TIGER)

KYLIE IRWIN and KARLI DUGGER

Last year, the girls’ varsity volleyball team finished 10-4 in league, making the first round of Section playoffs before falling to St. Francis.

The 2016-17 squad lost three players from last year – two seniors and one junior – and picked up four JV players and one from the freshman team.

These moves, however, leave the team senior heavy. With seven seniors, four juniors and one sophomore, the team looks to utilize their seniors’ experience, according to junior defensive specialist Paris Harwell.

“They [seniors] are all starters so they know what to do, and they show us what to do,” Harwell said. “I think we are really good this year, and we have a lot of older players.”

Harwell attributes the lack of junior players to other sports and outside commitments and recognizes that the lack of juniors this year may affect their subsequent varsity season.

But her focus is on this season and their postseason aspirations.

“We get along really well, and know and connect with each other so well,” Harwell said. “I have high expectations for this season and team, and I hope we can go far and make it to playoffs,”

The team’s league play starts on September 14th, but they will prepare in non-conference matches, including a match against Roseville’s previous rival, the Woodcreek Timberwolves.