The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1158320
The Press-Dispatch Fall Sports Preview Wednesday, August 21, 2019 D-9 VOLLEYBALL Pictured above is the 2019 Pike Central varsity volleyball team. They are, front row (l to r): Emma Russell, Karsyn Pipes, Aubrey Keepes, Aubrie Dawson and Lily Frederick-Rice; back row: Shelby Ridao, Ashlyn Shoultz, Maddie Williams, Erika Vinnedge, Addie Johnson, Riley Morgan, Lily Willis and Kenzie Powell. JR VARSITY FRESHMEN Pictured above is the 2019 Pike Central junior varsity volleyball team. They are, front row (l to r): Morgan Blackburn, Pay- ton Readle, Delaney Welch and Tessa Vinnedge; second row: Reagan Craig, Liberty Taylor, Addie Faulk and Emily Kreig; back row: Ashlyn Shoultz, Alyna Sharp, Alaina McClellan, Maddie Lamey and Jaize Mills. Pictured above is the 2019 Pike Central freshmen volleyball team. They are, front row (l to r): Payton Readle, Tessa Vinnedge and Delaney Welch; back row: Alyna Sharp, Liberty Taylor, Ashlyn Sharp, Reagan Craig and Emily Kreig. Our goal is to be more aggressive and end the season with the same intensity as we will start out with. I expect us to improve on our record from last season." -Coach Brandi Chestnut Charger volleyball aiming for better results in 2019 By Dennis Marshall Press-Dispatch Sports Editor sports@pressdispatch.net Pike Central volleyball will con- tinue to build around an expe- rienced lineup with an influx of younger, talented players in 2019. The Chargers finished last in the PAC, with an 11-19 overall re- cord, in head coach Brandi Chest- nut's first season. The team knows it will have to be more aggressive this season in order to see its desired results. "This year, our goal is to be more aggressive," Chestnut said. "More attempts at sending a hard attack at the other team instead of a soft pass back over for the oth- er team to capitalize on. We plan to limit the free ball passes back to the opponent, which potential- ly leads to the opponent being able to score a point from an aggres- sive attack." Pike Central graduated six se- niors, but return five great senior leaders in Audrey Keepes, Karsyn Pipes, Emma Russell, Aubrie Daw- son and Lily Frederick-Rice. Keepes, a middle, led the Char- gers in kills in 2018 with 107. She was also third in aces (21), and sec- ond in blocks (15) and digs (214). "Audrey brings an aggressive middle hit, blocking, a hard serve and good middle back defense," Chestnut said. "She brings a good knowledge and ability to see the court, and know where she can hit the ball to score the point." Outside hitter Pipes is a skilled passer with aggressive striking abilities. She had 30 kills, nine ac- es, 10 total blocks, 106 digs and 18 assists in 2018. Outside hitter Aubrey Dawson is another aggressive hitter. She has a solid serve and attack, and shows good agility moving around the court. Dawson had 132 digs, 12 aces and 26 kills last season. Russell also returns at outside hitter. The leftie also has a capa- ble serve and attack game. "[Russell] also has a good sense of the court and the ability to put the ball in an open spot," Chest- nut said. Frederick-Rice is a versatile ath- lete who will see time at both out- side and opposite hitter. "Lily is diverse as a hitter," Chestnut said. "She plays both sides of the court. She plays good defense and is able to read the ball well and cover the open spots we may have on our side." Pike Central will have to replace setter Rebecca Crow, middle Alys- sa Jenkins, defensive specialist Kenzie Dunn and outside hitters Kylie Dawson and Kyle Shoultz. Jenkins and Crow, along with Keepes, led the Chargers in to- tal sets played (73) and finished with the second (96) and third (92) most kills on the team, re- spectively. Jenkins also led the team in total blocks with 35, while Crow had the most digs (239) and assists (281). The team also suffered another blow with the loss of junior Kaila Lamey for the season. Lamey was one of the team's defensive specialists and finished last season with 198 digs, which was the third most on the team. She will serve as the team's statis- tician this season. Some other newcomers expect- ed to contribute to varsity squad are juniors Kenzie Powell, Addie Johnson, Lily Willis, Neeley Cor- rell, Shelby Ridao, Maddie Wil- liams, sophomore Erika Vinnedge and freshman Ashlyn Shoultz. Powell saw some varsity time last season and will take over at the setter position. Johnson also has some varsity experience and will be the team's libero. Willis is expected to contribute at outside hitter, Correll at outside hitter and defensive specialist, Rid- ao at defensive specialist, Morgan at outside hitter, Williams at mid- dle, Vinnedge at middle blocker/ hitter and Shoultz at outside hitter. Vinnedge, standing at 5 -foot- 11-inches, gives the Chargers some added height at the net. "We plan to cover the whole court, and to not let a ball hit the floor without someone going after it," Chestnut said. "I have been talking with the girls about in- tention. Stepping out on the court with the intent to make our pass- es on target, setting up our hitters and being aggressive putting the ball back over the net. And also be- ing defensively strong and digging up hard attacks from our oppo- nents. Make our opponents earn every point and working for it." Despite it only being Chestnut's second season, she has developed a rapport with her athletes, after all, she served as the Pike Central eighth-grade coach for five sea- sons before taking over the pro- gram last year. "It's been pretty awesome to see their growth as volleyball players and seeing them mature into re- sponsible young adults," Chestnut said. "I believe the team's biggest strength is their ability to find the open spots in the opponent's court. If we are having a hard time of get- ting the ball down from an attack, the girls are very good at finding the open spots. The girls on the bench are always looking and let- ting the girls on the court know where the openings are." Chestnut said she expects the team to improve this season, de- spite the key losses. "Our goal is to be more aggres- sive and end the season with the same intensity as we will start out with," she said. "I expect us to im- prove on our record from last sea- son." Pike Central opened its season on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at Vincennes Lincoln.