Thursday, August 07, 2008
There will be a number of new faces joining the Hopkins County Central volleyball program this season in hopes of creating a winning tradition, including head coach Mary Catherine Adamson.
Adamson joins the team after working as a high school assistant coach in Winchester while attending Eastern Kentucky University.
Although Central is still days away from its first game, Adamson’s presence has already boosted the team’s morale.
“Last year, the whole spirit of the team wasn’t as good,” senior co-captain Lauren Griffith said. “It just wasn’t the same. She’s a whole lot more positive and I think it will really contribute to our team this year.”
Junior Kara Willis said Adamson’s passion and coaching style will propel the team this year.
“Her coaching style is extremely positive,” she said. “She’s able to give us energy and real positive criticism, real upbeat. She’s real energetic and just loves what she does.”
The Lady Storm lost just one senior to graduation from last year’s team and have already developed a strong team chemistry. This season, Central will have five seniors, but only two, Griffith and co-captain ReAnna Hart, have played since freshman year.
Central’s newly acquired seniors include Adrienne Brown, Kristen Howard and Emily Zimmerman.
Despite being new to the scene, the three seniors have adapted quickly and show a great interest to improve.
“They’re all about, ‘hey teach me how to do this, teach me how to do that,’” Hart said. “We just stay after practice and help them out.”
Adamson particularly noted Zimmerman’s development.
“She has greatly improved since she has come,” Adamson said. “She’s a taller girl, so she can get up and spike, but she can also pass and go for digs.”
Freshmen Dustie Hoffman and Victoria Herndon have also caught Adamson’s attention as she tries them in different positions.
“They hustle, they follow the ball, they get to it,” she said. “I think they’re going to be very valuable players in the future.”
Hart, Griffith and Willis will be the anchors of the team though, and they will be looked upon as great contributors to Central’s success.
Griffith will work as an outside hitter while Hart will take the middle hitter position. Willis’ position is not so defined as she will assume various duties that Adamson asks of her.
“She is one of our all-around players,” Adamson said. “It doesn’t matter what position you put her in, she’s going to work it. She’s going to get her spikes in, hustle to the ball, get digs so we expect her to excel even more this year.”
Juniors Chelsey Cates and Hannah Farris as well as sophomore Cassandra Haley will also see plenty of time as starters.
Rounding out the roster will be juniors Hannah Smith and Kyllie Bean, sophomore Whitney Wooton and freshmen Faith Hill, Allison Larkins and Kaylin Watkins
Along with team chemistry, the girls said they feel serving is amongst the team’s strengths this season.
“This year our coach has had us work more on serving than our previous coach did,” Griffith said. “Our serving has just gotten a whole lot better than it used to be. I don’t think we’ll be missing as many points from serving anymore.”
Although Central won just three matches last year, the Lady Storm have lofty aspirations for this season. The players said they hope to make it to districts and even regionals, but one team in particular has already been circled on its schedule.
“We’re really looking forward to the game against (Madisonville-North Hopkins),” Willis said. “We really feel strongly about beating them. There’s a lot of rivalry there.”
For Adamson, she brings a new attitude to the team and plans to guide the team on the road to success.
“I’m looking more toward the future and not the past,” she said. “We’re looking forward to a lot more wins this year.
“Leave the past in the past, we’re moving toward the future, looking in a new direction.”
Central will begin the 2008 season when it visits Muhlenburg-North at 6 p.m. on Monday.
No comments:
Post a Comment