Grace Volleyball Team Ready For Fresh Start
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
With the retirement of last year's head coach, Karen Peterson, who led the team to a record of 12-14 overall and 2-6 in MCC play during the 2007 season, Coach Andria Harshman has stepped up to take the position of head coach and has big plans to turn the volleyball program around.[[In-content Ad]]Harshman, a 2002 Grace College graduate, is coming off of a job as an assistant volleyball coach at Notre Dame and brings plenty of coaching experience with her.
Besides the new coaching staff, another reason this season is going to be instrumental in building the program is because only three girls will be returning from last year's team.
Returning players include seniors Candace Burns, who will help provide much needed leadership for the incoming players, and Angela McClure, who according to Harshman "brings a tremendous amount of spiritual leadership." Sophomore Kirah Fifield, who led the MCC in digs this past season as a freshman, will also appear on the roster as a returnee.
Harshman said she is looking forward to the incoming freshman class because "each of the girls brings a love for the Lord, a desire to achieve excellence, and athletically move us in the right direction."
Listed among the freshmen is Natile Marlar, who signed with Grace's Volleyball team last year and was redshirted her first year, but is expected to help take the team to the next level this year with her hard work and volleyball knowledge. In addition, local standouts that should toughen up the roster are Enrica Verrett from Elkhart Central and Brooke Blackford from Triton. Blackford earned all-state honors and is looking to make an immediate impact for the Lancers.
With so few returning players, the team will include ten freshmen this year.
"We are a very young team, as you can tell," said Harshman. "However, with such an inexperience at the college level, the exciting thing for me is working with student-athletes that are eager to learn and be a part of something bigger than themselves.
"Restoring the Tradition' is the phrase that keeps coming back to my mind. As I look back upon Grace Volleyball tradition, winning three out of four conference titles only 7 years ago, I see the hope that a new coach brings. I look forward to bringing my experience from the Division I level onto the court for this team. As the Lord works, be sure to expect great things from this young volleyball team in the near future."
With the retirement of last year's head coach, Karen Peterson, who led the team to a record of 12-14 overall and 2-6 in MCC play during the 2007 season, Coach Andria Harshman has stepped up to take the position of head coach and has big plans to turn the volleyball program around.[[In-content Ad]]Harshman, a 2002 Grace College graduate, is coming off of a job as an assistant volleyball coach at Notre Dame and brings plenty of coaching experience with her.
Besides the new coaching staff, another reason this season is going to be instrumental in building the program is because only three girls will be returning from last year's team.
Returning players include seniors Candace Burns, who will help provide much needed leadership for the incoming players, and Angela McClure, who according to Harshman "brings a tremendous amount of spiritual leadership." Sophomore Kirah Fifield, who led the MCC in digs this past season as a freshman, will also appear on the roster as a returnee.
Harshman said she is looking forward to the incoming freshman class because "each of the girls brings a love for the Lord, a desire to achieve excellence, and athletically move us in the right direction."
Listed among the freshmen is Natile Marlar, who signed with Grace's Volleyball team last year and was redshirted her first year, but is expected to help take the team to the next level this year with her hard work and volleyball knowledge. In addition, local standouts that should toughen up the roster are Enrica Verrett from Elkhart Central and Brooke Blackford from Triton. Blackford earned all-state honors and is looking to make an immediate impact for the Lancers.
With so few returning players, the team will include ten freshmen this year.
"We are a very young team, as you can tell," said Harshman. "However, with such an inexperience at the college level, the exciting thing for me is working with student-athletes that are eager to learn and be a part of something bigger than themselves.
"Restoring the Tradition' is the phrase that keeps coming back to my mind. As I look back upon Grace Volleyball tradition, winning three out of four conference titles only 7 years ago, I see the hope that a new coach brings. I look forward to bringing my experience from the Division I level onto the court for this team. As the Lord works, be sure to expect great things from this young volleyball team in the near future."
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