By Stephen Smoot
In recent years, Pendleton County varsity volleyball has hovered over the region as a Sword of Damocles, ready to swoop in to slice and dice opponents into submission. Front line aggressiveness balanced with technique and experience made the squad not only competitive but feared.
With that group of seniors moving on after stellar careers, Madison Day, head coach, is working not so much on rebuilding but reloading with young talent ready to make their own mark on regional high school volleyball.
“When you lose such strong players, you have to change your mindset,” explained Day. “Not every kid is the same. You have to work with what you have. I have to see what the girls have and see what they need from me.”
Great programs adapt and adjust, building on the talents that the players bring to the foundation. Day’s team will look different and play differently, but expectations for growth remain high.
The season “will be a little bit of a slow burner,” shared Day. “We won’t be as terrifying as we were at the beginning of last year.” The number of young players expected to step into big roles means that, as Day said, “I expect it to be a learning curve this year because we’re so young.”
“But when it counts,” she added, “we’ll show up.”
One aspect that remains the same as in previous seasons has been the mentorship of older players. “I see our veterans soaking in the new ones, teaching them that this is how we do things,” Day said.
The senior class includes players who helped to propel the team to success in the past two years. Brynlynn Waggy took on the role of setter last year and did very well, but will return to her natural position in the middle. Her height allows her to command the net. Breena Bowers will take on the captain’s role of the back row, serving as the last line of defense in an area often vulnerable.
Bowers also brings back her consistent serving. She often emerged toward the end of games to shut out the opposing squad and nail down the victory.
Carolyn Varner will also serve as a weapon in that regard. Two years ago, she had one of the most consistent serves in the region. Her freshman year on junior varsity, she accomplished one of the most difficult feats in sport, serving an entire game without giving it up.
Emily Poling and Clara Raines will furthermore add their experience as they fill in when and where needed.
Callie Judy and Alyssa Bennett both enjoyed strong seasons last year and return as juniors. Judy specialized in setting up the front line while Bennett provided offensive punch on the front line.
Day expects much from the sophomore class in the coming season. “That’s a big class,” she noted. Katie Heavner, who helped the basketball team to earn a trip to the state tournament last year, will fill in on the right side, guarding the line.
“Chesnee Colaw will be in the back row for me,” stated Day. Though younger, she delivered as a playmaker for the state champion softball team last spring and is expected to bring the same level head and experience to the volleyball court. “She is quite mature as young as she is,” stated Day, who added that Colaw will eventually take the leadership role on the back line when Bowers graduates.
Colbie Wimer, also a sophomore, will join the varsity as well this season playing a new role filling the outside.
Eight freshmen came out for the squad this season, most of them eager, but raw. Day expects one of them, Tia Heavner, to contribute right away. She served as one of the mainstays of the middle school basketball squad that earned an unblemished record for two straight seasons. “I’m excited to see what she’s going to bring,” added Day.
With youth in so many key positions, Day has made changes to set the team up for both success and growth. “We are packed with home games the first half of the season,” she shared, going on to say that the team will have a less “heavy” schedule, competing against fewer teams from higher classifications.
“It’s not necessary to schedule that much craziness yet,” said Day, explaining that the mission this season lay in instilling confidence in her younger players more than fine tuning and challenging the experience in place as much.
“We have some new teams this year. We’ve never played Pocahontas County before, but we see them twice at home,” Day stated. “There may be some new rivalries forming,” she went on to say, noting that her players who also competed in basketball acknowledged the lack of love lost between the programs in that sport.
Paw Paw also appears on the schedule this year. Day mentioned the acrimony between the schools that happened during a boys’ basketball game last year.
Day also related that she expects the junior varsity team to compete well against its competition this year.
Pendleton County will open at 7 p.m. on Aug. 26 at Bath County, Virginia, then compete in their initial home game at 6 p.m. on Aug 28 against Pocahontas County. Nine of the first 11 games will take place at home, including matches against Class AA rival Moorefield, Class AA Petersburg, Tucker County, and also fellow 2024 tournament qualifier East Hardy.
