Fall Sports Previews: Area volleyball, soccer teams look for winning seasons
The Daily Jeffersonian takes a capsule look at area soccer and volleyball teams who submitted preview information for this season.
VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL: Cambridge
HEAD COACH: Alexa Beskid
YEARS AT SCHOOL: This is year 2 as the varsity coach.
RECORD LAST SEASON: 13-8
POSTSEASON SUCCESS: Last season we lost in the first round of sectionals to Ridgewood in 5 sets.
RETURNING LETTERMEN:
Kylie Taylor- Senior- 3: Leading digger (303 digs), 32 aces, 106 kills.
Ryan Dunning- Senior- : 68 kills, 142 digs
Abby Mann- Junior- 1 letter: 82 kills, 29 blocks
Kaitlyn Biddle- Junior- 1 letter
KEY NEWCOMERS:
Xylvia Francis- senior- outside hitter:
Jaedyn Lallithan- Junior- outside hitter
Gabby Oliver- Junior- Libero/DS
Anna Hill- Senior- Right Side
TEAM STRENGTHS: "Our strengths this year are that we are all upperclassmen at the varsity level. We have four returning lettermen with experience," Beskid explained.
TEAM AREAS THAT NEED WORK: "Although we have all upperclassmen on our team, which is a strength, many of our athletes are learning a new position," Beskid offered. "Having lost 7 seniors from last season, we do have a lot of rebuilding to do."
SEASON OUTLOOK: "This season, we are looking for the athletes to settle into their new positions and gain confidence," Beskid said. "Our seniors are learning their role on the team and we hope to continue to build off of last year's success.
HIGH SCHOOL: Buckeye Trail
HEAD COACH: Wendy McVicker
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 5th year as head coach.
RECORD LAST SEASON: 7-13
RETURNING LETTERMEN:
Kaydence Starr- Senior, middle hitter, 2 year letterman; Honorable Mention District 12.
Josie Creighton- Senior, middle hitter, 2 year letterman; Honorable Mention District 12.
Grace Shipe- Junior, 2 year letterman, setter; 2nd Team District 12 and 2nd Team IVC for the 2021 season.
Ally Carpenter- Junior, 2 year letterman, outside hitter
Kayleigh Abrams- Sophomore, 1 year letterman, right side hitter
KEY NEWCOMERS:
Sydney Patterson- Sophomore, libero
Anna McVicker- Freshman, setter
Vayda Neuhart- Freshman, right side hitter
Kayla Hinkle- Freshman, defensive specialist
TEAM STRENGTHS: "These girls are dedicated and disciplined. Each and every player is working hard everyday. Individually they are very skilled, but even more importantly they have team chemistry," McVicker said. "Seniors Kaydence Starr and Josie Creighton have done a good job as leaders to create team work throughout the off season and preseason. Juniors Ally Carpenter and Grace Shipe are consistent, dependable and team players. Sophomore Kayleigh Abrams is explosive and continually works at perfecting her game.
TEAM AREAS THAT NEED WORK: "We are working on consistency," McVicker offered.
SEASON OUTLOOK: "We are looking forward to a good season," McVicker said
TEAM: John Glenn
HEAD COACH: Christie McGee
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 12th Varsity Season at John Glenn, 198-90
RECORD LAST SEASON: 14-10 Overall, 9-7 MVL, 4th MVL Big School Division, Sectional Champs
RETURNING LETTERMEN:
Hannah DeMattio – Sr, MH, HM D12, led the 2021 team in blocks
Kara Fields – Sr, MH, second in blocks (2021)
Emma Briggs – Jr, OH, HM D12
Emma Dolan – Jr, OPP, HM MVL
Lauren Blair – So, Setter, HM MVL, led the 2021 team in assists
KEY NEWCOMERS:
Aleea Musselman – Jr, OH, returning to the court after an ACL injury in 2021
Graceann Hitchcock – Sr, DS
Sydney White – Sr, DS
Sarah Wayne – Jr, DS
SEASON OUTLOOK: "A more experienced team than in 2021 who is looking to go above and beyond last season’s accomplishments. Our senior leadership is strong and well supported by the underclassmen.," McGee explained. "While we do not have many flashy stats from the 2021 season, we have a team that works very well together as a unit. This team is motivated, aggressive and fun to coach. Our expectations are always to be contending for the top spot in the MVL and a long post-season run."
SOCCER
HIGH SCHOOL: John Glenn Girls
HEAD COACH: Clay Wilkins
YEARS AT SCHOOL: Entering 20th Season
RECORD LAST SEASON: 10-6-2
POST SEASON SUCCCESS: Lost 2-1 to West Muskingum in District Semifinal, in overtime
RETURNING LETTERMEN:
Isy Bronner, Senior Defender; 30 Steals
Bella Eubanks, Senior Midfielder; 1st Team MVL, 1st Team Eastern DIstrict; 4 Goals, 15 Assists
Gwyn Lemon, Senior Defender; Honorable Mention Eastern District; 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 72 Steals
Marina Nicolozakes, Senior Forward/Midfielder; 1st Team MVL, 2nd Team Eastern DIstrict; 19 Goals, 5 Assists
Marissa Saki, Senior Defender; 2nd Team MVL, Honorable Mention Eastern District; 2 Goals, 2 Assists, 54 Steals
Anna Bennett, Junior Midfielder; 3 Assists
Becca Spohn, Junior Forward; 9 Goals, 1 Assist
Avery Vasko, Junior Defender; 8 Steals
Grace Fields, Sophomore Defender; 1 Assist, 10 Steals
Olivia Perrin, Sophomore Midfielder/Defender; 3 Goals, 1 Assist
Jillian “Bean” Sowers, Sophomore Goalkeeper; 2nd Team MVL, Honorable Mention Eastern District; 93 Saves, 1.39 Goals Allowed Average, 78.8% Save Percentage
Riley Zamensky, Sophomore Midfielder; 7 Goals, 7 Assists
KEY NEWCOMERS:
Kira Kaiser, Freshman Midfielder/Forward
Faith Lemon, Freshman Goalkeeper
Abigail Matheney, Freshman Midfielder
Estelle Matheney, Freshman Forward/Midfielder
Teagan Walrath, Freshman Defender
TEAM STRENGTH: "We have had a lot of hunger within our training this pre-season," Wilkins said. "We have a competitive group of girls that understand team play very well. Passing is a strength, physicality is a strength, and speed is also a strength. Our team gets along well with each other, and they play with something to prove."
TEAM AREAS THE NEED WORK: "We have a tendency to be straight forward within our attack. At times losing site of the flanks, or forcing play forward when we should drop the ball back," Wilkins explained. "We are also looking for someone to become that main goal scorer."
SEASON OUTLOOK: "We are looking to compete again for the MVL title," Wilkins stated. "We have a big test early in the season as we travel to Tri-Valley, August 24. We have also put together a rigorous schedule to prepare ourselves for the tournament. We look to get back to the District Title game again this season after failing to reach the title game for the first time in 5 seasons. We will need to have some underclassmen step up in order for this to occur."
HIGH SCHOOL: John Glenn Boys
HEAD COACH: Will Hess
YEARS AT SCHOOL: 3rd season
RECORD LAST SEASON: 5-6-3
POST SEASON SUCCCESS: Sectional champions; Lost in district semi-final to River View.
RETURNING LETTERMEN:
Ty Bronner, senior forward
Aydan Thompson, senior wing
Nicholas Biddinger, senior wing
Riley West, senior defender
Levi Kinnan, senior goal keeper
Kanon Riehl, junior mid-fielder
Jackson Blagg, junior mid-fielder
Ashton Driggs, junior forward
Aarav Vaishnav, junior mid-fielder
Will Nicolozakes, sophomore wing
KEY NEWCOMERS:
Evan Haney, sophomore defender
Ethan Haney, senior defender
Clay Hanna, junior defender
TEAM STRENGTH: "Our team strength is the joy and passion they bring with them everyday. They make training purposeful and really care for each other," Hess said. "As I would say they are a bunch of 'soccer nuts' that share a love for the game. We can ping the ball, settle the ball and work well in our formation."
TEAM AREAS THE NEED WORK: "We need to improve our composure in the game and the ability to finish clinically," Hess offered.
SEASON OUTLOOK: "We want to find success in every way," Hess stated. "I believe this team has the potential to win our district and find the next stages for John Glenn soccer in the postseason."
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Fall Sports Previews: Area volleyball, soccer teams look for winning seasons
