For years the Bay Rivers District has been widely regarded as one of the most competitive volleyball districts in the state, and the Virginia High School League’s statewide realignment last year gave credence to the argument.
Although the BRD did not produce a state champion last fall, no other grouping around the state could boast similar dominance in one sport as four teams from the BRD — Jamestown, Warhill, Grafton and Lafayette — played their way into state tournaments. Two of them — Jamestown and Warhill — reached the state final in their respective classifications.
While having four teams reach the state tournament for the second year in a row seems unlikely, a young but talented Jamestown team (4A) and an experienced Warhill bunch (3A) both have the makeup to emerge as title contenders by season’s end.
While Warhill and Jamestown seem to be the favorites on paper, Grafton is a yearly postseason contender and, as usual, has some talented pieces to build around. York also seems poised for a breakout season, having lost one senior and boasting a strong crop of talent that has been playing together for three years.
Under the guidance of veteran coach Keith Nowadly, Lafayette, which lost a bulk of its starters from last year’s 3A state semifinalist, always fields a competitive team while Tabb’s program seems to be in good hands with a pair of new coaches who have seen success at the collegiate level.
Below we take a look at each team’s top returners and a brief season outlook:
Bruton High
Top Returners: Shayla Hillian, senior; Sydney Jamison, senior; Hailey Bauer, senior
Outlook: Coming off one of its most successful seasons in recent history, Bruton looks to improve with the return of two of its top three hitters — Shayla Hillian and Sydney Jamison — and assist leader Hailey Bauer. Coach Kevin Schoolfield said his goals for 2014 are to move up in the final Bay Rivers District standings for the third year in a row and reach the 2A Conference 33 championship game. One of the Panthers’ leading hitters last year, Alexis Calloway, is gone, but her younger sister, freshman Gabby Calloway, brings a long history of club success and will be expected to contribute immediately.
Grafton High
Top Returners: Christa Hall, senior; Sophia Beaudoin, junior
Outlook: The perennial Bay Rivers District powers were hit hard by graduation, as former standouts Kendall Mahoney, Hannah Williams and Lexi Austin are each now playing in college. But second-year coach Karissa Cumberbatch is excited about this year’s athletic and hard-working group. In the absence of the hard-hitting Mahoney and fellow hitter Hannah Olson, who is now playing softball at Elon University, Cumberbatch says this year’s team will win games with its defense and in serve-receive. Senior Christa Hall, perhaps the district’s top returning setter, and junior outside hitter Sophia Beaudoin are the only two returning starters. Cumberbatch likes what she has seen from talented junior transfer Rachel Britt. If the young group that will start four players with minimal varsity-level experience matures throughout the season, look for Grafton to make its usual push deep into the postseason.
Jamestown High
Top Returners: Maria Esch, sophomore; Ellie Popelka, sophomore; Tess Anderson, senior
Outlook: With a strong blend of returning talent and promising newcomers, defending 4A state runner-up Jamestown has the look of a state title contender once again. Sophomore hitters Maria Esch, a first-team all-state selection last year, and 6-foot-2 Ellie Popelka are two of the most talented players in the district at the net. Coach Tom Stephenson says seniors Tess Anderson, an intelligent hitter and even better passer, and Allison Wahl will be relied on heavily to provide leadership with last year’s senior trio of Kelly Esch, Monique St. Cyr and Victoria Bowen now gone. Newcomers Emma Schriner, a 6-foot-2 freshman transfer, and powerful lefty hitter Grace Thiesse give the Eagles depth at the hitting position that few in the state can match. Junior Madison Spence and sophomore Maggie Vinaird will split time as the Eagles’ setter, and Stephenson said junior Jen Allison is a capable replacement for Bowen at the libero position.
Lafayette High
Top Returners: Abby Oren, sophomore; Julia Howard, junior; Shaylee Ruescher, senior
Outlook: Having graduated five starters from last year’s team that reached the state tournament for the first time since 2006, veteran Rams coach Keith Nowadly characterized this year’s group as young and inexperienced. Among the recent graduates is standout middle hitter Kiersten Langerud and libero Caitlin Noffsinger. Sophomore Abby Oren, who was voted to the 3A all-state team last year, is the team’s top returner and is joined by junior returning setter Julia Howard and senior Shaylee Ruescher, who will shift over to middle hitter after playing on the outside last season. Freshman Abby Goetsch is expected to contribute mostly on the back line while playing sparingly up front. Expected to be one of the shorter teams in the district, Nowadly says the Rams are going to have to be sharp in the serving and passing aspects in addition to playing exceptional defense. “We’re not going to wow anyone with our hitting and blocking,” he said.
Tabb High
Top Returners: Abigail Carney, sophomore; Paige Hartian, senior; Ashley Muhich, sophomore
Outlook: With one returning starter back from last year, Coach Mike Honeycutt expects there to be growing pains. But there is a positive to starting a young roster: “We will grow together,” said Honeycutt, Tabb’s first-year head coach who takes over the Tigers program following a two-year stint with the Hampton Roads Juniors and an extensive coaching career in Texas, Arizona and Washington. Although this group is perhaps the youngest in the district, there are some quality pieces that have Honeycutt predicting his team will be competitive in most matches and may even surprise a few teams. Senior Paige Hartian is the Tigers’ lone returning starter while sophomore Ashley Muhich and sophomore setter Abigail Carney, who was voted a team captain, are the only other with varsity-level experience. But Honeycutt says sophomore outside hitter Audre’ana Ellis is a tremendous athlete who will be a “special player,” and that sophomore setter Abigail Carney has the potential to be contribute, too.
Warhill High
Top Returners: Alex Koon, senior; Colby Norris, senior
Outlook: With two first-team all-state hitters returning in area star Alex Koon and Colby Norris, the Lions have the best shot of any team in the district at ending Jamestown’s four-year run as Bay Rivers District champions. Koon, who was the 3A East Region and Virginia High School Coaches Association’s Player of the Year last year, is the district’s top returning player and has most of her teammates from last year back on the court with her. Warhill lost two valuable seniors from last year’s team that lost in the 3A state championship, but contributors Megan Harrigan, Nicole Mulligan, Hannah Comier, Cori Clifton, Jewel Walters, Madi Braman and Bre Harrigan all return to give the Lions a realistic shot at returning to the 3A state final. With newcomers Gabby Santana, Elizabeth Glazener and Alis Ripchick joining the rotation, Coach Greg Koon labeled this year’s team as the deepest he has coached at Warhill. Koon added he hopes speeding up the offensive tempo and improving his team’s serve-receive will help keep opponents out of sync.
York High
Top Returners: Sydney Sumner, senior; Emma Pereira, senior; Maddie Dillard, senior
Outlook: Having lost one senior from last year’s team, the Falcons — at least on paper — look to be a competitive force in the Bay Rivers District this fall. Senior outside hitter Sydney Sumner, who recently committed to play on full scholarship for Division I North Carolina Central University next year, is one of the district’s highest jumpers and hardest hitters. She also has great chemistry with third-year setter Emma Pereira. Those two, along with returning outside hitter Maddie Dillard, give York an experienced core of seniors who Coach Kelly Dreyfuss said “have really taken it upon themselves to be strong leaders.” Newcomer Trinity Choice, a junior goalkeeper on York’s girls soccer team, is new to the sport but has great size and is developing into an intimidating presence at the net as a middle hitter. Dreyfuss says softball standout Molly Rogerson is emerging as an excellent libero and on-court leader, as well.
