Princess Anne downs First Colonial as volleyball players begin high school season with the added burden of club ball

Without fans and students packed into the gym to cheer each rally, Princess Anne girls volleyball coach Craig Dooren thought the match against First Colonial felt more “like an organized practice.”

The two Beach District titans finally opened their regular season, against each other, and Princess Anne won in four sets, 25-19, 25-11, 20-25, 25-12, Monday at First Colonial.

“Long time coming,” Dooren said of the season opener. “I thought it was special.”

Players donned masks while competing and silence overwhelmed the gym before each serve. But similar aspects from previous seasons lingered.

All-Tidewater first-team selection JiJi Lykins again dominated the court. The Princess Anne senior outside hitter, who has signed with Providence, collected 15 kills. Brooke Cunningham had 36 assists and Cadence Nguyen added 10 digs.

Maddy DeCandido had 22 kills and three aces for First Colonial.

“I’m so excited (to be back),” Lykins said. “I’m so excited and we’re all super-excited even though there’s precautions we have to take like the masks and stuff. But I think it’s a good opportunity for us to come together and face this.”

Playing high school volleyball in March is brand-new for Lykins and all volleyball players, who normally use this time to compete for their club teams.

That’s put extra stress on players and coaches who find themselves managing more time conflicts and workout regimens.

“It’s definitely a struggle on our bodies and our brains and stuff,” Lykins said. “We have a lot of time conflicts, but our coaches have done a good job of letting us make practices when we can with us still being ready to play at an equal caliber on both club and high school.

“It’s been difficult, but I think everyone’s handling it really well.”

There was also a chance some of the area’s top talent would opt out of the high school season, but for Lykins, that was an easy decision.

“I wanted to finish it out (at Princess Anne),” she said.

Opting out would also negate some of the best parts of a high school season, Dooren said.

“High school athletics, to me, it’s everything to these kids,” he said. “What got taken away from them is the camaraderie and the school and getting to wear their uniforms inside their building, the student base. You go to a club match and there’s not one kid in the world that’s gonna know you play club volleyball — your mom and your dad, that’s it. At high school you get banners, you get your picture up forever, you get to walk through school and kids congratulate you and kids are talking about it on social media.

“I run a club, so obviously I’m all for the club situation, but I’ve been coaching high school for 23 years and I’ve seen what it can do for the student-athlete.”

And putting up another state championship banner is the goal for Dooren and Lykins.

“I know when the game’s on the line and a big point is needed,” Dooren said, “the ball’s going to JiJi and she’s gonna finish it.”

Ray Nimmo, 757-446-2364, ray.nimmo@pilotonline.com