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New coach steps in for C.S. Lewis volleyball
team
Serve's up: volleyball camp teaches skills,
pushes training
Sharks take second; Craig Cheney high point
competitor
Javelin thrower's strong arm and indomitable
spirit propel him as champion
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Bucks poised for a season at the net |
Coach Cecil Williams says the team looks
sufficiently competitive to advance to the state tourney from the
Casco League this year |
By Heidi
Aubrey, Newberg Graphic intern
E-mail Heidi at
haubrey@eaglenewspapers.com
|
St. Paul High School’s varsity
volleyball team is gearing up for an aggressive performance this
year.
“We have a real good shot of doing real well at the district
tournament,” said Cecil Williams, the team’s head coach. “We (also)
have a great shot at going to the state tournament this year. It all
depends on if our kids do the little things. We’re only going to be
as good as we want to be this year.”
Last year the team placed second in the Casco League, ending with a
record of 12-2. The team played in the subdistrict tournament, but
did not advance to districts.
The team lost three players to graduation — Megan Wolf, a setter, Ashley
Parrish, a middle back, and Sophie Krier, an outside hitter.
“We’re missing a setter right now,” Williams said. “We need to fill
her (Wolf’s) shoes, so that’s going to be kind of tough. We have a
couple kids in mind.”
This year, the team could gain a couple of sophomore players that
played junior varsity last year, as well as a few freshman.
“(The freshman) will probably get some playing time on varsity
because they’re six feet tall,” he said.
Williams ran down the roster of players he’ll have to choose from
this season.
“My main players (this year) are my seniors,” he said, listing top
players Jessica Smith, Jordan Murphy, Kimmie Ernst, Crystal Kraehmer
and Jenna Schneider. “(They’re) returning so they should get most of
the minutes.”
Smith was voted one of the sixth best players in the league last
year and Williams envisions her playing middle back this year.
Murphy will likely spend time on the left side this year, Williams
said, and he said he expects she’ll be voted one of the sixth best
players in the league this year.
“She’s one of our better passers,” he said. “She and Jessica
(Smith) have been playing side-by-side since their freshman year,
and I’m not gong to mess up that duo.”
Williams said Ernst saw a lot of playing time last year, but then
was injured.
“She will be strong for us,” he said, adding that he expects her to
start in the middle front position.
Williams said Kraehmer, who is one of the best hitters in the
league and was the third best hitter on last year’s team, will
likely play outside hitter.
Schneider, who played every position for the team last year, will
likely start for the team this year, as well.
The positions are not final as practices began Monday evening;
Williams has not yet made his assignments.
“They work every day to earn their positions in practice,” he said.
Practice runs from 4 to 7 p.m. until school begins Sept. 7.
Thereafter, practice will begin at the end of the school day.
Williams has been coaching volleyball at St. Paul High School for
four years. This will be his third year as head coach. The team will
have a new assistant coach in Shannon Court, a substitute teacher at
the school. Court will also serve as the junior varsity coach.
The team’s first tournament game is Sept. 11 in Prairie City. The
Bucks have face North Clackamas High School in a non-league game
Sept. 14 in Clackamas. The team’s first league game will be Sept. 21
against Southwest Christian Academy in Beaverton. |
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From
Aug. 25,
2004, Newberg Graphic
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