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Clearfield high on numbers, low on experience
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
By Jon Christoff Sports Writer
HYDE - Clearfield volleyball coach Bob Peters was pleasantly surprised with the turnout he got in the spring when he held sign-ups for this season.
Peters had 25 girls on the list and - much to his surprise - all 25 showed up when practice began last week.
In fact, the girls that signed up and an additional 16 girls ended up at Arthur J. Weiss Gymnasium for the first day of practice.
The sheer number of girls gives Peters some options in trying to replace the five graduated seniors from last year's squad, most notably four-year letterman Jennie Knepp.
"I actually had signups in the spring down at the middle school and there were 25 that showed up," said Peters. "Surprisingly, all of them came out. Usually you get half, if that. They are a unique group. I think they're going to be a good group of players in the future.
"We've got half the team being freshmen - we've got 20 freshmen and a total of 41. (Practices have been) difficult. We've got to find a away to keep them all busy somehow. They've been working really well, the freshmen have, and actually everyone has. We had a good first week of two-a-days."
With the loss of five starters and the most girls out for volleyball in his tenure, Peters will rely on his two letterwinners in seniors Kelsey Glace and Samantha Broad to provide leadership on and off the court.
Glace returns to her middle hitter position with Broad flanking her on the outside. Aside from his two returnees, Peters will need more time before he can definitively say who will be starting when the season opens Sept. 8.
"They should be the leaders," Peters said of his letterwinners. "Hopefully, they can keep things together (because) we're awfully young, and it's a rebuilding year definitely.
"The other positions that we have are completely open. I have no idea of whose going to be where. We had a lot of girls that played jayvee last year, and they'll probably fit in very well. In the middle, there's going to be at least one position open."
Peters will give his first look to junior Michelle Payonk and sophomores Adrienne Stucke and Morgan Brooks in terms of a starting hitting position.
In finding a replacement for Knepp at setter, Peters is relying on senior Cortney Woodel and junior Ana Dungan to step up and take control of the position.
Also looking possibly claiming a starting spot are junior Shannon Reigel and sophomores Kristen Henderlong and Cammeron Ogden.
With so many new varsity players, Peters said his team's goal for the season is simple - improve.
"We play most teams (on our schedule) twice, and I don't think it's beyond reason to think that we might lose to a team at the beginning of the season and turn around and win when we play the second time," said Peters. "Even this week, improvement has occurred. If it keeps going that way, I think we can get some wins out of the season."
Clearfield opens the season at Punxsutawney on Sept. 8. Roster
Seniors
Misti Bruner, *Samantha Broad, *Kelsey Glace, Kylee Hawkins, Brittany Martell, Cortney Woodel.
Juniors
Ana Dungan, Becca Kephart, Chelsea Ogden, Michelle Payonk, Shannon Reigel, Carissa Schultz.
Sophomores
Jessica Bloom, Morgan Brooks, Kristen Henderlong, Cammeron Ogden, Jordan Puit, Katyln Stine, Adrienne Stucke, Kelsey White.
Freshmen
Summer Blake, Alyssa Broad, Emi Brown, Amber Claycomb, Caitlyn Collins, Dakota Farmery, Danielle Farmery, Amber Goodrow, Abby Homan, Elizabeth Lanager, Katelyn Maltais, Marissa McKendrick, Kaylee Mulhollan, Nicole Reed, Brittany Renaud, Amber Scott, Kaytlynn Sidorick, Courtney Smith, Abby Strouse, Lauren Witman.
*Denotes returning letterwinners.
Schedule
September
8-at Punxsutawney; 10-at DuBois Central Catholic; 14-at Ridgway; 15-at West Branch; 17-Brockway; 21-Hollidaysburg; 22-DuBois; 24-at Curwensville; 26-at Bellwood-Antis Invitational, TBA; 29-Brookville.
October
1-at Johnsonburg; 6-St. Marys; 8-Punxsutawney; 13-DuBois Central Catholic; 19-West Branch; 20-at Brockway; 22-at DuBois; 27-Curwensville; 29-at Brookville.
Junior varsity matches begin at 6 p.m. with varsity to follow unless noted.
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