Eighth-grade volleyball continues stellar season

Sisters eighth-grade volleyball teams are having an outstanding season and hope to close out their final two matches with wins. The two teams, Batman and Robin, have already won five and six matches respectively, and each has three remaining.

Only 14 players came out for volleyball this year, which is quite a difference from previous years. Last season the Outlaws had 23 girls participate and they have had as high as 30, which is over half of the total number of eighth-grade girls.

Coach Clay Warburton said, "This group is so small that their skills have progressed very fast. They get so much time on the court and they get more touches in practice. The downside is that we want to push an intact cohort to the high school to sustain the program there, and that is a small concern."

Batman has a record of five wins and one loss. The Outlaws lost to Crook County earlier in the season in a very close match. Robin has won all six of their matches and hope to close out the season at a perfect 9-0.

Players on the Batman squad include Anna Bartlett at outside hitter (OH), Taylor Frey at middle (M), Moriah Jones (M), Eryn Ricker (M), Kinzi Moore and Katelyn Josten at setter (S) and Mandi Calavan at outside hitter. Closing out the roster for Batman is Alana Lukens, who plays both setter and outside hitter.

Batman's middle hitters have done a fantastic job all season long and continue to learn advanced volleyball skills and tactics. The outside hitters have been the team's attacking force and their defense at the net. The setters have done a great job of backing the team by communicating where the ball should be. They are an integral part of the team's ability to bump, set and spike the ball.

Warburton said, "The difference between this team and other teams we play is that these guys know position and rotation. They run an offense and bump, set and spike the ball. Teams we play are not at that level."

Warburton made special note of Lukens, who plays for both Batman and Robin.

"Alana is super-positive and is looking to make everyone around her better," said Warburton.

Robin also has seven players on their roster including Rylee Weber (M), Jessie Brigham (OH, M, S), Ashlynn Cantwell (OH), Hawley Harrer (S), Cassidy Ling-Scott (M), Jackie May (M) and Alana Lukens (S).

Warburton told The Nugget this group of seven girls who comprise Robin are the best servers he's ever had.

"All these girls can jump serve and many can jump float serve which is the hardest serve in volleyball. I've never had a team who by the end of the year every player can serve overhand. That's special about this team. They've all done it and many by mid-season. We serve teams off the court. But, I really like their level of concentration. We can be ahead of teams by 20 points and the ball comes back to us and the girls take care of it. They bump, set, spike, and execute the play we want to run."

Robins' setters include Harrer, who is left-handed and is able to turn and hit on the second touch.

Warburton stated that there's quite a difference between Sisters' setters, middle hitters and outside hitters compared to those from other teams.

"Our setters set the ball high so our hitters can move into position and their feet get them to the ball to get them to make good plays," stated Warburton. "Our middles have been solid and smart with the ball. They are starting to not just touch balls but block balls. The outside hitters hit the ball down hard. They use angles of the court and are maturing into multi-faceted players."

Warburton is pleased and proud of both teams and told The Nugget they will have much to contribute to the varsity squad as they move to the high school next year.

"They are going to contribute a lot of heart, hustle and desire with underlying talent at every position," said Warburton.

The Lady Outlaws will play their last home game of the season on Thursday, October 24, at 4 p.m. All are invited to come and take a look at the stellar players who could very likely be a part of next year's varsity squad.