The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, August 18, 2021 D-1 "From roof to foundation, we've got you covered!" Like us on Facebook! WE NOW ACCEPT: Quality Work. Affordable Prices! Quality Work. Affordable Prices! f Charger volleyball looks to have a winning season By Matthew Haycraft This year, the Pike Cen- tral Chargers volleyball team lost five seniors, but gained about seven freshmen. The outgoing seniors were defen- sive specialist Neeley Correll, setter Kenzie Powell, outside hitter Lily Willis, outside hit- ter Riley Morgan and middle hitter Maddie Williams. Last year's squad was 8 -21 overall and 12th in the Pocket Athlet- ic Conference at 1-11. Correll, for the '20 -'21 sea- son had 84 sets played, with 164 digs, 234 serve recep- tions, 11 aces and 51 kills. Powell had 13 sets played, with 3.3 assists per set, 43 as- sists, three aces, 31 digs and six kills, along with being one out of ten players named PAC Honorable Mention. Wil- lis had 91 digs, had 60 sets played with one ace. Morgan ended last season with 56 sets played, one kill, 52 digs and four aces. Williams had 86 sets played with 85 kills, 12 solo blocks and 20 aces. Head volleyball coach Stephanie Shedd said, "We had some great seniors last year, and we have excellent returning girls and incom- ing players that will be step- ping into those roles for this year. Last year, we had trou- ble coming together as a team and playing as a team, so I'm hoping to build upon that this year. Really pull each other to- gether and work as a team." "I think our returning play- ers are doing a good job help- ing the incoming players, and sharing tips that can be help- ful for them to improve their skills. So I expect the return- ing players to provide an atmo- sphere of camaraderie with the team." Returning as seniors this year are previous mid- dle hitter Eri- ka Vinnedge, previous out- side hitter/ middle hitter Alaina Mc- Clellan and Jaize Mills. Vinnedge, in the previous year, had 88 sets played with 181 kills, a hitting percentage of .085, 30 solo blocks, with 36 total blocks and 32 aces. She was also named PAC second team in last year's All-Confer- ence. Coach Shedd said, "She's aggressive at the net and has a great serve that is really hard to receive. She's great at read- ing the ball and being able to block, so she'll be helping us in the front a lot." Vinnedge believes this sea- son will be better because the team gets along well and works well together. She also commented, "I kind of do the spike thing, I am trying to get the highest that anyone has ever gotten. I think that has a lot to do with team goals though, because if the team can't work togeth- er you can't do your person- al goals." Pike Central senior Alaina McClellan, in the last season had played 39 sets with sev- en kills and a hitting percent- age of .152. She also wrapped up the season with three total blocks, 40 digs and eight aces. "I feel really good about the upcoming season, espe- cially being a senior, it is su- per exciting. I really think all the girls get along so well this year and it's going to be a fun season for everyone. My goal for the season is to break my kill record from last year and really compete with our more challenging teams we come up against every year. I expect great things to come from the girls I've grown up playing this sport with, and to win more games with our new teammates as well. I expect this to be my best year yet." Jaize Mills ended last year's season with three total blocks, five aces, 65 digs, 10 assists and 20 kills. "Mills gives 110 percent all the time and she's not afraid to hit the ground and dive after a ball, consistent for a player and an asset in the back row," stated Coach Shedd. Mills commented, "I'm very excited to see how well we all work together and how well we communicate, and see if there's anything that's im- proved from last year. Person- ally, I just want to be that se- nior that can help out with the younger class and be a better leader to other classmen." Coach Shedd summarized the team's goals for the sea- son. "I think we just improve our record from last year and try to have a winning season, obviously we want to shoot for sectional wins, but just play- ing, really working as a team, being upbeat and keeping the momentum on our side. Vol- leyball is such a momentum sport. If you can get it on your side and keep up that energy, then you can beat any team. They've got the skills to do it. We just got to get them all working together as a team." Pike Central Athletic Direc- tor Dustin Powell sent out a di- rective stating that due to is- sues beyond his control, vol- leyball games will be canceled through August 24. As of right now, the girls' volleyball team will play their first game on Thursday, August 26 at Pike Central against Loogootee. GIRLS' VARSITY VOLLEYBALL ❚ Thursday, Aug. 26 – Loogootee – 7:15 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Saturday, Aug. 28 – FSB Classic – 12 a.m. at Vincennes Lincoln ❚ Monday, Aug. 30 – Evansville Reitz – 7:45 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Aug. 31 – Forest Park – 7:15 p.m. at Forest Park ❚ Thursday, Sept. 2 – Shoals – 6 p.m. at Shoals ❚ Saturday, Sept. 4 – Tecumseh / Mt. Vernon – 10 a.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 7 – Wood Memorial – 7:45 p.m. at Wood Memorial ❚ Saturday, Sept. 11 – Evansville Central Invite – 10 a.m. at Evansville Central ❚ Monday, Sept. 13 – North Posey – 7:45 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 14 – Princeton – 7:45 p.m. at Princeton ❚ Thursday, Sept. 16 – Boonville – 7:45 p.m. at Boonville ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 21 – Vincennes Rivet – 7:15 p.m. at Vincennes Rivet ❚ Thursday, Sept. 23 – South Spencer – 7:45 p.m. at South Spencer ❚ Thursday, Sept. 30 – Tecumseh – 7:45 p.m. at Tecumseh ❚ Monday, Oct. 4 – Northeast Dubois – 7:15 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Gibson Southern – 7:45 p.m. at Gibson Southern ❚ Thursday, Oct. 7 – Heritage Hills – 7:45 p.m. at Heritage Hills ❚ Saturday, Oct. 16 – IHSA A Sectional – 11 a.m. at TBD GIRLS' JV VOLLEYBALL ❚ Thursday, Aug. 26 – Loogootee – 6 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Monday, Aug. 30 – Evansville Reitz – 6:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Aug. 31 – Forest Park – 6 p.m. at Forest Park ❚ Saturday, Sept. 4 – Tecumseh / Mt. Vernon – 10 a.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 7 – Wood Memorial – 6:30 p.m. at Wood Memorial ❚ Monday, Sept. 13 – North Posey – 6:30 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 14 – Princeton – 6:30 p.m. at Princeton ❚ Thursday, Sept. 16 – Boonville – 6:30 p.m. at Boonville ❚ Tuesday, Sept. 21 – Vincennes Rivet – 6 p.m. at Vincennes Rivet ❚ Thursday, Sept. 23 – South Spencer – 6:30 p.m. at South Spencer ❚ Thursday, Sept. 30 – Tecumseh – 6:30 p.m. at Tecumseh ❚ Saturday, Oct. 2 – JV Tourney – 10 a.m. at Tecumseh ❚ Monday, Oct. 4 – Northeast Dubois – 6 p.m. at Pike Central ❚ Tuesday, Oct. 5 – Gibson Southern – 6:30 p.m. at Gibson Southern ❚ Thursday, Oct. 7 – Heritage Hills – 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Hills ❚ Saturday, Oct. 9 – Forest Park JV Tourney – 9 a.m. at Forest Park They've got the skills to do it [win.] We just got to get them all working together as a team." - Coach Stephanie Shedd Jaize Mills Erika Vinnedge Photos courtesy A Moment in Time Captured by Lindsay Nalley Alaina McClellan Team photos not available due to quarantine. 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