| Season didn't get off to a "Rocky" start "We will learn from that game," said Rocky Grove girls volleyball coach Mike Stevenson aft his squad dropped a strait set match to Jamestown Wednesday night at home. The Orioles seemed like they picked up right where they were last year battling tough and jumping out into a little lead to open their match against the Muskies. But when they reached eight points it seemed like a wall went up over the net and their hand got spongy. Jamestown serves were mishandled and passes required hunting down rather than allowing a clean set. Sets were not going where they wanted and the power of a good spike seemed hard to come by. And their serving was troublesome at times. After being up a few they then found themselves down 20-9. They managed a short rally that ended with a serve into the net and then they fell 25-13 In the second set Rocky Grove looked again like that 10-2 squad from a year ago going up 11-6. Then Jamestown rattled off five straight points to tie it up forcing Stevenson to call a timeout in order to settle his team back down. But it didn't work and Jamestown took the next six points before serving one into the net. Rocky grove made a game out of the second set tying it up at 21 but that was all they could muster. They lost the hard fought second set 25-21 The third set they just looked as though the universe was saying "this ain't your night!" It was close up to 13-12 but then Jamestown just rattled off point after post on Rocky's miscues mostly. The Orioles lost the last set 25-16 and the match. The Grove's Courtney Clark had a pretty good match with 11 points, 6 kills, 10 digs and 1 ace. Natalie Sloss had 3 aces, 12 points and 1 kill. Katie Eggs added 10 points with 3 kills and 2 aces. Deanna Pyle had 7 points and 6 digs. The 0-1 Orioles will face Commodore Perry on the road Thursday. |          | What to expect down the road Season Preview story by Lisa Renwick It was quite the journey the Rocky Grove girls volleyball team embarked on last season, its community happily in tow. The Orioles finished the season second in Region 1 at 10-2 and 12-5 overall. Their historic campaign came to a close with a tough four-set loss to Cambridge Springs in the opening round of the District 10 Class 1A playoffs. So what’s the dynamic like in the gymnasium just a year removed from the Lady Orioles’ best season in program history? Business as usual. “I see a lot of similarities from the start of last season,” Rocky Grove head coach Mike Stevenson said. “The girls are working hard.” The Orioles do have a few obstacles to climb this season - one of the biggest of which will be youth. Stevenson returns just three varsity players from last year’s squad and is welcoming in six freshmen. Among those gone for RG are first team all-region outside hitter Abby Williams (132 digs, 17 blocks, 126 kills, 42 aces) and second team all-region opposite hitter Rylee Reed (59 digs, 19 blocks, 57 kills, 43 aces). Also gone are middle hitter Sarah Plumer and libero Devon Rhoads, who is now at Thiel College playing for the Lady Tomcats. That doesn’t mean the tank is empty, though. Courtney Clark, Abby Cable and Paige Cresswell were all valuable members of the Orioles’ run a year ago. And they don’t only bring back experience, they bring back the heart and the passion that put the Orioles on the map last season. They’ve also seen the effects of hard work and have a growing confidence that will be a huge benefit to an inexperienced squad. Clark retains setting duties this season with Cable at middle hitter and Cresswell on the outside. Also expected to join the starting rotation are sophomore outside hitter Katie Beggs, junior outside hitter Natalee Sloss, junior middle hitter Josie Seely and senior libero Delana Pyle. |
   | “Last year was one of the most successful seasons for Rocky Grove girls volleyball,” Stevenson said. “The players’ work ethic to make each other better was the key to our success. “The community was very supportive. Our fans packed the gym for both home and away games. Our ‘bird gang’ (student section) also played a part in our success - as their energy poured onto the floor. “The payoff of knowing the changes we have made over the years is working. Not only are we seeing team wins but seeing individual wins as well.” Roster 1. Katie Beggs, soph.. OH 2. Abby Cable, Jr. MH 4. Courtney Clark, sen. Setter 6. Zoe Cresswell, Fr. MH 7. Mikenzie Savada , Fr. OppH 8. Natalee Sloss, jun. OppH 9. Josie Seely, Jun. MH 10. Paige Cresswell, Jun. OH 14. Lucy Haubrich, Fr. Setter 17. Kaidlynn Burger, Fr. OH 20. Shayla Kee, jun. Def Spec. 22. Olivia Faust, Fr. setter 23. Faith Copley. Soph. OppH 24. Madison McMasters, Soph. defensive Specialists 25. Delana Pyle, sr. def spec. 26 Audra Pierce, Jun def spec Rylee Curll , So. OppH |
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