By Josh Hall (Josh.hall@ky3.com)
Until Waynesville High School volleyball coach Sarah Covey can hoist a district championship plaque with her team, winning a district title will always be her goal.
It will be a challenge for the Lady Tigers to accomplish that feat this season after going 5-21-3 after falling to Hillcrest in three sets in the first round of the Class 4, District 10 tournament last season.
But that isn’t putting a damper on the way Waynesville is approaching the new season. The Lady Tigers enter the 2017 season with nothing but optimism.
“A district title is our main goal, and will be until we can grasp it,” Covey said. “Waynesville is empty-handed with them.”
The Lady Tigers hope to change that soon.
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And it starts with returning seniors Olivia Grandberry (OH), Ashlyn Wardin (DS), Michelle Amanto (L) and Mickela Bibb (DS).
Covey was quick to credit the core of her team.
“We came out with a (5-21-3) record last year, yet we grew the entire season,” Covey said. “Coming out of an extremely tough season of growth, these four put in more work this off-season when many others would have quit.”
Also returning is junior middle hitter Shelby Wardin, who led the team in blocks and kills in summer-league play.
Freshmen Sydney Kunnemann (S), Aldon Pilz (S) and Jordan Harpel (M) will also see time at the varsity level this season.
Waynesville’s goal is to finish above .500 this season, and in order to do so, Covey said the Lady Tigers have to focus on ball control.
“We aren’t a huge team and won’t win from a fast offense,” Covey said. “Putting the ball in play and keeping the ball in play will be our strategy. We are pretty stacked defensively, so this will be the key to our game.”
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