Valley Hopes To Keep The Volleyball Bandwagon Rolling
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
During the summer, the bandwagon sport was women's soccer.
Tippecanoe Valley High School does not have a soccer program, but it does have a bandwagon sport: volleyball. Volleyball was Valley's best fall sport in 1998, and you know how people like to follow winners.
Under coach Jon Parker, Valley recorded 16 wins in 1997, the most in school history. Valley followed it up by winning 22 in 1998.
Parker senses the same enthusiasm for volleyball in 1999.
"There is still a lot of talk about volleyball over here," he said. "We had a neat turnout at our scrimmage Friday. We've started a tradition. Now we hope to keep it strong."
At first glance, the Vikings appear to have their work cut out for them if they want to break the record for wins for the third year in a row.
They lost five key players, including outside hitter Brooke Fisher, setter Rhonda Doud, back row specialist Tiffany Cunningham and middle hitter Amy Nellans, all who graduated. Also gone is back row specialist Carissa Parker, who did not try out for the team.
Only three players who had significant varsity playing time return: senior middle hitter Jennifer Studebaker and senior outside hitters Inga Vandermark and Tara Baker. Studebaker led the team in blocking and kill efficiency, and Vandermark led in ace percentage. The majority of the other statistical leaders left with the graduates.
Still, Parker likes the talent of his 1999 team.
"We may struggle early, but we have a good chance to match our best year," he said.
Others Parker says will contribute include setter Jamie Doud, middle hitter Lynette Wilcox, back row/outside hitter Kyleigh Gast and back row specialist Lacey Stump, all who played junior varsity last year. Outside hitter Kim Carr, who saw limited varsity time, also figures in the rotation.
"Our strength figures to be in the middle with Lynette and Jennifer," Parker said. "This is the fourth-year letter for Jennifer."
While Valley's wins have increased each year under Parker - the Vikings were 7-14 his first year - they have not won a sectional match, which he attributes to bad draws. Elmhurst, a team that finished with 25 and 26 wins during the last two regular seasons, knocked Valley out of the last two sectionals.
"Since I've started coaching, we have always played the toughest team right off the bat," Parker said.
Elmhurst cannot knock Valley out this year. Valley switches sectionals.
Now the Vikings are at Plymouth, which also has Mishawaka Marian, Rochester, Whitko and Culver Girls Academy.
"I thought our sectional was tough before, but it may have gotten tougher," Parker said. "Mishawaka Marian is usually ranked. Rochester has one of the top teams in the state. Plymouth always has a good program."
Warsaw Deals With Downward Spiral
While Valley has recently recorded the most wins in school history, Warsaw recorded its first losing season in the 1990s last season.
Over the last three years, Warsaw's records were 24-15 in 1996, 19-15 in 1997 and 14-19 in 1998. Before Jamie Byron took over in 1996, Warsaw had a 215-42 cumulative record (.837) under Byron's predecessor, Penny Salm.
After compiling a 57-49 record (.538) over three years, Byron resigned following the 1998 season.
In steps Tanya Coon, who talks not of needing time to turn the program around but instead of turning the program around in 1999.
"I think we have a strong candidate for winning our conference and regional," she said. "We have a good chance of going to state."
The Tigers return several players who played major varsity minutes last season, including junior setter Amie Poling, senior middle hitter Nerecia Taylor, junior middle hitter Kristen DeGeeter, junior right front hitter Lindsay Woods and junior right front hitter Kyla Stanley.
Only three key players graduated: Jessica Zaugg, Nancy Mason and Brooke Sutton.
Coon, whose hiring in June caused a minor stir because she had no previous experience coaching volleyball, said the girls welcomed her with open arms.
"They're enjoying it more," she said. "They're working hard. They have made it easy on me. Anything I ask them to do, they do it well. It usually takes them only two tries to get it right."
Because the program was on the decline, changes needed to be made, and Coon is making them.
"The philosophy is all new," she said. "People will see a dramatic change. They're ahead of where I thought they would be just for the whole fact they are working harder than they have had to in the past."
As for changes on the court, Coon said, "The offense will be a lot quicker. It will be faster-paced with more movement. Each player here has a key role and knows what that role is."
Coon said she knows when to listen to her players.
"They will have input to say when something is working or isn't working," she said.
Manchester Squires
Coach/years -ÊJessica Tate, third
Last year's record -Ê10-18 (0-7 TRC)
1998 postseason - Lost to Southwood in second round of sectional
Key losses - Megan Eckert
Key returners - Junior outside hitter Jessica Hicks, senior back row specialist
Varsity roster -Ê12
First match -Êat Maconaquah 6 p.m. Aug. 23
Tate - "This year the girls are really working hard on their own to become better, rather than needing to have someone push them. We're still looking for a setter."
NorthWood Panthers
Coach/years - Peg Bough, ninth
Last year's record -Ê24-11 (4-2 NLC)
1998 postseason -ÊLost at the semistate finals
Key losses -ÊNatalie Will, Amy Zercher, Sarah Harter
Key returners - Senior setter Erin Newcomer, junior setter/outside hitter Kasey Chamberlin, senior outside hitter Amy Hughes, junior outside hitter Jessica Yoder, senior middle hitter Shelly Stichter
Varsity roster -Ê12
First match -Êat Penn 6 p.m. Aug. 17
Bough -Ê"Compared to the other teams in the conference, we probably lost the most. Graduation hit us the hardest. Obviously we'll have to find a different way to win, because our points came from our middle hitters (Will, Zercher). We will have to be a lot stronger on the outside."
Tippecanoe Valley Vikings
Coach/years - Jon Parker, fourth
Last year's record -Ê22-9 (4-3 TRC)
1998 postseason -ÊLost to Elmhurst in the first round of sectional
Key losses -ÊBrooke Fisher, Amy Nellans, Rhonda Doud, Tiffany Cunningham, Carissa Parker
Key returners -ÊSenior middle hitter Jennifer Studebaker, senior outside hitter Inga Vandermark, senior outside hitter Tara Baker
Varsity roster -Ê10
First match - host Wawasee 6 p.m. Aug. 17
Triton Trojans
Coach/years - Gayle Perry, 14th
Last year's record -Ê22-13 (5-2 NSC)
1998 postseason -ÊLost to Michigan City Marquette in sectional finals
Key losses -ÊKendra Blackford, Jamey Bell, Kelli Hackett
Key returners -ÊSenior middle blocker Missy Nifong, senior outside hitter Emily Yankovich, junior outside hitter Brandie Ganshorn
Varsity roster -Ê12
First match -Êhost Mishawaka 6 p.m. Aug. 18
Perry -Ê"I think we should have a very good year. We think winning the sectional is realistic, and winning the conference is attainable. In just 1-1/2 weeks, we picked up where we left off last year. Our timing is already down. This team has a shot to go after the school record for most wins (27). This may be our best team yet, but we beefed our schedule up."
Warsaw Tigers
Coach/years - Itanya Coon, first
Last year's record -Ê14-19 (4-2 NLC)
1998 postseason - Lost to Elkhart Central in the first round of the sectional
Key losses -ÊJessica Zaugg, Nancy Mason, Brooke Sutton
Key returners -ÊJunior setter Amie Poling, senior middle hitter Nerecia Taylor, junior middle hitter Kristen DeGeeter, junior right front hitter Lindsay Woods, junior right front hitter Kyla Stanley
Varsity roster - 11
First match -Êvs. Churubusco/Northfield at Northfield, 6 p.m. Aug. 24
Wawasee Warriors
Coach/years -ÊJason Fleming, fourth
Last year's record -Ê8-24 (1-5 NLC)
1998 postseason -ÊLost to NorthWood in the sectional semifinals
Key losses -ÊSara Frantz, Danielle Powell
Key returners -ÊSenior outside hitter Angie Beer, senior outside hitter Jennifer Mason, senior defensive specialist Gennie Brissette, sophomore middle blocker Shanna Zolman
Varsity roster -Ê11
First match -Êat Tippecanoe Valley 6 p.m. Aug. 17
Fleming - "We're looking to finish .500 or better. We hope to get back to finishing in the finals of tournaments, like we were doing up until last year. We're gaining more experience, but we're still young this year. We're looking more toward the future."
Whitko Wildcats
Coach/years -ÊRachelle McCammon, third
Last year's record -Ê12-19 (4-3TRC)
1998 postseason - lost in first round of sectionalÊ
Key losses - Kelly Osborn, BrieAnne StarkweatherÊ
Key returners - Senior outside hitter Aly Frantz, senior back row player Mindy Lopshire, junior outside hitter Stacie Warner
Varsity roster - 8
First match - at Wabash 6 p.m. Aug. 18
McCammon -Ê"One of my goals is to finish above .500. The girls set a team goal of winning the TRC, but that could be tough with Southwood as good as they are." [[In-content Ad]]
During the summer, the bandwagon sport was women's soccer.
Tippecanoe Valley High School does not have a soccer program, but it does have a bandwagon sport: volleyball. Volleyball was Valley's best fall sport in 1998, and you know how people like to follow winners.
Under coach Jon Parker, Valley recorded 16 wins in 1997, the most in school history. Valley followed it up by winning 22 in 1998.
Parker senses the same enthusiasm for volleyball in 1999.
"There is still a lot of talk about volleyball over here," he said. "We had a neat turnout at our scrimmage Friday. We've started a tradition. Now we hope to keep it strong."
At first glance, the Vikings appear to have their work cut out for them if they want to break the record for wins for the third year in a row.
They lost five key players, including outside hitter Brooke Fisher, setter Rhonda Doud, back row specialist Tiffany Cunningham and middle hitter Amy Nellans, all who graduated. Also gone is back row specialist Carissa Parker, who did not try out for the team.
Only three players who had significant varsity playing time return: senior middle hitter Jennifer Studebaker and senior outside hitters Inga Vandermark and Tara Baker. Studebaker led the team in blocking and kill efficiency, and Vandermark led in ace percentage. The majority of the other statistical leaders left with the graduates.
Still, Parker likes the talent of his 1999 team.
"We may struggle early, but we have a good chance to match our best year," he said.
Others Parker says will contribute include setter Jamie Doud, middle hitter Lynette Wilcox, back row/outside hitter Kyleigh Gast and back row specialist Lacey Stump, all who played junior varsity last year. Outside hitter Kim Carr, who saw limited varsity time, also figures in the rotation.
"Our strength figures to be in the middle with Lynette and Jennifer," Parker said. "This is the fourth-year letter for Jennifer."
While Valley's wins have increased each year under Parker - the Vikings were 7-14 his first year - they have not won a sectional match, which he attributes to bad draws. Elmhurst, a team that finished with 25 and 26 wins during the last two regular seasons, knocked Valley out of the last two sectionals.
"Since I've started coaching, we have always played the toughest team right off the bat," Parker said.
Elmhurst cannot knock Valley out this year. Valley switches sectionals.
Now the Vikings are at Plymouth, which also has Mishawaka Marian, Rochester, Whitko and Culver Girls Academy.
"I thought our sectional was tough before, but it may have gotten tougher," Parker said. "Mishawaka Marian is usually ranked. Rochester has one of the top teams in the state. Plymouth always has a good program."
Warsaw Deals With Downward Spiral
While Valley has recently recorded the most wins in school history, Warsaw recorded its first losing season in the 1990s last season.
Over the last three years, Warsaw's records were 24-15 in 1996, 19-15 in 1997 and 14-19 in 1998. Before Jamie Byron took over in 1996, Warsaw had a 215-42 cumulative record (.837) under Byron's predecessor, Penny Salm.
After compiling a 57-49 record (.538) over three years, Byron resigned following the 1998 season.
In steps Tanya Coon, who talks not of needing time to turn the program around but instead of turning the program around in 1999.
"I think we have a strong candidate for winning our conference and regional," she said. "We have a good chance of going to state."
The Tigers return several players who played major varsity minutes last season, including junior setter Amie Poling, senior middle hitter Nerecia Taylor, junior middle hitter Kristen DeGeeter, junior right front hitter Lindsay Woods and junior right front hitter Kyla Stanley.
Only three key players graduated: Jessica Zaugg, Nancy Mason and Brooke Sutton.
Coon, whose hiring in June caused a minor stir because she had no previous experience coaching volleyball, said the girls welcomed her with open arms.
"They're enjoying it more," she said. "They're working hard. They have made it easy on me. Anything I ask them to do, they do it well. It usually takes them only two tries to get it right."
Because the program was on the decline, changes needed to be made, and Coon is making them.
"The philosophy is all new," she said. "People will see a dramatic change. They're ahead of where I thought they would be just for the whole fact they are working harder than they have had to in the past."
As for changes on the court, Coon said, "The offense will be a lot quicker. It will be faster-paced with more movement. Each player here has a key role and knows what that role is."
Coon said she knows when to listen to her players.
"They will have input to say when something is working or isn't working," she said.
Manchester Squires
Coach/years -ÊJessica Tate, third
Last year's record -Ê10-18 (0-7 TRC)
1998 postseason - Lost to Southwood in second round of sectional
Key losses - Megan Eckert
Key returners - Junior outside hitter Jessica Hicks, senior back row specialist
Varsity roster -Ê12
First match -Êat Maconaquah 6 p.m. Aug. 23
Tate - "This year the girls are really working hard on their own to become better, rather than needing to have someone push them. We're still looking for a setter."
NorthWood Panthers
Coach/years - Peg Bough, ninth
Last year's record -Ê24-11 (4-2 NLC)
1998 postseason -ÊLost at the semistate finals
Key losses -ÊNatalie Will, Amy Zercher, Sarah Harter
Key returners - Senior setter Erin Newcomer, junior setter/outside hitter Kasey Chamberlin, senior outside hitter Amy Hughes, junior outside hitter Jessica Yoder, senior middle hitter Shelly Stichter
Varsity roster -Ê12
First match -Êat Penn 6 p.m. Aug. 17
Bough -Ê"Compared to the other teams in the conference, we probably lost the most. Graduation hit us the hardest. Obviously we'll have to find a different way to win, because our points came from our middle hitters (Will, Zercher). We will have to be a lot stronger on the outside."
Tippecanoe Valley Vikings
Coach/years - Jon Parker, fourth
Last year's record -Ê22-9 (4-3 TRC)
1998 postseason -ÊLost to Elmhurst in the first round of sectional
Key losses -ÊBrooke Fisher, Amy Nellans, Rhonda Doud, Tiffany Cunningham, Carissa Parker
Key returners -ÊSenior middle hitter Jennifer Studebaker, senior outside hitter Inga Vandermark, senior outside hitter Tara Baker
Varsity roster -Ê10
First match - host Wawasee 6 p.m. Aug. 17
Triton Trojans
Coach/years - Gayle Perry, 14th
Last year's record -Ê22-13 (5-2 NSC)
1998 postseason -ÊLost to Michigan City Marquette in sectional finals
Key losses -ÊKendra Blackford, Jamey Bell, Kelli Hackett
Key returners -ÊSenior middle blocker Missy Nifong, senior outside hitter Emily Yankovich, junior outside hitter Brandie Ganshorn
Varsity roster -Ê12
First match -Êhost Mishawaka 6 p.m. Aug. 18
Perry -Ê"I think we should have a very good year. We think winning the sectional is realistic, and winning the conference is attainable. In just 1-1/2 weeks, we picked up where we left off last year. Our timing is already down. This team has a shot to go after the school record for most wins (27). This may be our best team yet, but we beefed our schedule up."
Warsaw Tigers
Coach/years - Itanya Coon, first
Last year's record -Ê14-19 (4-2 NLC)
1998 postseason - Lost to Elkhart Central in the first round of the sectional
Key losses -ÊJessica Zaugg, Nancy Mason, Brooke Sutton
Key returners -ÊJunior setter Amie Poling, senior middle hitter Nerecia Taylor, junior middle hitter Kristen DeGeeter, junior right front hitter Lindsay Woods, junior right front hitter Kyla Stanley
Varsity roster - 11
First match -Êvs. Churubusco/Northfield at Northfield, 6 p.m. Aug. 24
Wawasee Warriors
Coach/years -ÊJason Fleming, fourth
Last year's record -Ê8-24 (1-5 NLC)
1998 postseason -ÊLost to NorthWood in the sectional semifinals
Key losses -ÊSara Frantz, Danielle Powell
Key returners -ÊSenior outside hitter Angie Beer, senior outside hitter Jennifer Mason, senior defensive specialist Gennie Brissette, sophomore middle blocker Shanna Zolman
Varsity roster -Ê11
First match -Êat Tippecanoe Valley 6 p.m. Aug. 17
Fleming - "We're looking to finish .500 or better. We hope to get back to finishing in the finals of tournaments, like we were doing up until last year. We're gaining more experience, but we're still young this year. We're looking more toward the future."
Whitko Wildcats
Coach/years -ÊRachelle McCammon, third
Last year's record -Ê12-19 (4-3TRC)
1998 postseason - lost in first round of sectionalÊ
Key losses - Kelly Osborn, BrieAnne StarkweatherÊ
Key returners - Senior outside hitter Aly Frantz, senior back row player Mindy Lopshire, junior outside hitter Stacie Warner
Varsity roster - 8
First match - at Wabash 6 p.m. Aug. 18
McCammon -Ê"One of my goals is to finish above .500. The girls set a team goal of winning the TRC, but that could be tough with Southwood as good as they are." [[In-content Ad]]