Veteran Triton Volleyball Team Eyes A Deep Tournament Run
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
BOURBON -ÊThis year's volleyball players at Triton know what they want.
And right now they are concentrating on how they will get it.
After winning the Northern State Conference, the sectional and the first game of the regional last year, the Trojans are not ready to give in without a good fight this season. Although just three seniors, Emily Yankovich, Missy Nifong and Kristi Sechrist, graduated from last year's regional runner-up team, Yankovich and Nifong were starters. Yankovich was not only a starter, she was the team's most valuable player as well.
However, only two starters graduated, so that leaves several returners with valuable experience, and the girls at Triton want to improve upon their performance last season.
"Basically, we lost two starters," said Triton coach Gayle Perry. "We have a lot of girls back from last year. The team got valuable experience by winning the conference. Then we made it to the regional final where we lost to Marquette, the eventual state champion. The girls have their eyes set on success again this season."
The Trojans will see players such as Brandie Ganshorn, Rachel Speicher, Janell Salisbury, Betsy Salyer, Amber Feldman, Beth Workman and Melissa Claxon returning to the court. But just because the majority of the team is returning doesn't mean the girls can rest on last year's accomplishments and coast through the season without hard work.
"We have established a basic lineup and worked hard so far," said Perry. "We will concentrate on better digging, serving and solid defense. Defense wins championships."
Perry also noted some of the strengths of this year's Trojans.
"Our hitting is very strong," said Perry. "We have good servers and setters. But the thing that is perhaps strongest about our team is our unity. The girls are very team-oriented. They have very high expectations and goals. The goals they have set are high but very attainable."
But along with strengths must come weaknesses, and Triton is no exception to the rule.
"We are power players and we hit the ball hard," said Perry, "but if a team plays soft against us, it may give us a bit of trouble. I think at this point the low and offspeed stuff and teams that do not play fundamentally sound volleyball will throw us off a bit.
"Another thing that I feel is a weakness is that the girls get along too well. I like to have a little adversity on my team, and the team gets along so well that sometimes I have to create it myself."
If Perry would change just one thing about her team, what would that be?
"I want them to play with more emotion, more passion," she said. "I believe that the team takes on some of the characteristics of the coach. I want them to do that. Right now the girls don't get as emotional as I would like them to. I want them to be more excited about the good things and more upset about the not so good things."
The Trojans will put themselves to the test tonight when they travel to Mishawaka for a 6 p.m. game.
Tippecanoe Valley Vikings
Head coach/years: Jon Parker, fifth year
Record/conference record: 22-11, 5-2 TRC
Key losses: Jennifer Studebaker, Inga Vandermark, Tara Baker, Kim Carr
Key returners: Jamie Doud, Lynette Wilcox, Kyleigh Gast, Lacey Stump
Opening date: 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at Wawasee
Parker: "The girls have really been working hard and our goal is to keep a winning tradition going. Every year we set goals of trying to win 20-plus games, a conference championship and a sectional championship. I believe our program's improvement has come about by two main reasons. Number one, our girls have had great attitudes. They work hard and want to do well. Number two, our assistant coach, Jon Hutton, has added a great dimension to our program. He goes to several volleyball camps during the summer to pick up new ideas. He teaches the players the fundamentals, and he puts in several hours of overtime working with individual athletes. We realize we have several shoes to fill this year, but I believe the girls are ready for that task."
NorthWood Panthers
Head coach/years: Peg Bough, 10th year
Record/conference record: 21-13/5-1 NLC
Key losses: Erin Newcomer, Shelly Stichter, Amy Hughes
Key returners: Carol Duncan, Kasey Chamberlin, Katie Chamberlin, Jessica Yoder
Opening date: 6 p.m. Aug. 15 host Penn
Bough: "We hope to be a little bit stronger because of our experience. We had a strong class of JV players that came up. We are looking for a lot from them. We hope to win a few more games than last year and be a little better than last year."
Wawasee Warriors
Head coach/years: Jason Fleming/fourth year
Record/conference record: 12-19/0-6 NLC
Key losses: Shanna Zolman, Jennifer Mason, Angie Beer, Gennie Brissette
Key returners: Candice Brown, Erica Auker, Bria Pletcher, Kathy Likens
Opening date: 6 p.m. Aug. 15 hosts Tippecanoe Valley
Fleming: "Increased blocking with a balanced offense" will be keys to the season.
Triton Trojans
Head coach/years: Gayle Perry, 15th year
Record/conference record: 25-11/6-1 NSC
Key losses: Emily Yankovich, Missy Nifong, Kristi Sechrist
Key returners: Brandie Ganshorn, Rachel Speicher, Janell Salisbury, Betsy Salyer, Amber Feldman, Beth Workman, Melissa Claxon
Opening date: 6 p.m. today at Mishawaka
Perry: "We have seven seniors this season, and we got valuable experience last year. We won the conference and made it to the regional final, but the girls are not satisfied. They are hungry and want to move on this year."
Manchester Squires
Head coach/years: Mike West, first year
Record/conference record: 6-25/NA
Key losses: Megan Goshert, Mandy Gibson
Key returners: Jessica Hicks, Jenny Brubaker, Carrie White, Jennifer Jester, Amanda Phillips, Ann Harms, Joni West, Ashley Penrod
Opening Date: 6 p.m. Aug. 21 host Maconaquah
Assistant coach Steve Olsen: "Basically we have the same varsity team. We have eight returning varsity players from last year. The five returning seniors are very excited about this season. They feel they have a lot of potential. They are planning to go all out this year. The seniors have very high hopes. They want to do the best they can and make this their last hurrah. We have some real heavy hitters on the team."
Warsaw Tigers
Head coach/years: Tanya Coon, second year
Record/conference record: 17-17/2-4 NLC
Key losses: Nerecia Taylor, Christy Colt, Laura Overton
Key Returners: Andrea Saldivar, Kara Kesler, Amie Poling, Lindsay Woods, Kristen DeGeeter, Kyla Stanley, Myra Sells
Opening Date: 9 a.m. Aug 19 at Lafayette Jefferson
Coon: "Winning and losing are byproducts of preparation. Right now we are preparing."
Whitko Wildcats
Head coach/years: Rachelle McCammon
Record/conference record: 9-19/NA
McCammon did not return numerous phone calls. [[In-content Ad]]
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BOURBON -ÊThis year's volleyball players at Triton know what they want.
And right now they are concentrating on how they will get it.
After winning the Northern State Conference, the sectional and the first game of the regional last year, the Trojans are not ready to give in without a good fight this season. Although just three seniors, Emily Yankovich, Missy Nifong and Kristi Sechrist, graduated from last year's regional runner-up team, Yankovich and Nifong were starters. Yankovich was not only a starter, she was the team's most valuable player as well.
However, only two starters graduated, so that leaves several returners with valuable experience, and the girls at Triton want to improve upon their performance last season.
"Basically, we lost two starters," said Triton coach Gayle Perry. "We have a lot of girls back from last year. The team got valuable experience by winning the conference. Then we made it to the regional final where we lost to Marquette, the eventual state champion. The girls have their eyes set on success again this season."
The Trojans will see players such as Brandie Ganshorn, Rachel Speicher, Janell Salisbury, Betsy Salyer, Amber Feldman, Beth Workman and Melissa Claxon returning to the court. But just because the majority of the team is returning doesn't mean the girls can rest on last year's accomplishments and coast through the season without hard work.
"We have established a basic lineup and worked hard so far," said Perry. "We will concentrate on better digging, serving and solid defense. Defense wins championships."
Perry also noted some of the strengths of this year's Trojans.
"Our hitting is very strong," said Perry. "We have good servers and setters. But the thing that is perhaps strongest about our team is our unity. The girls are very team-oriented. They have very high expectations and goals. The goals they have set are high but very attainable."
But along with strengths must come weaknesses, and Triton is no exception to the rule.
"We are power players and we hit the ball hard," said Perry, "but if a team plays soft against us, it may give us a bit of trouble. I think at this point the low and offspeed stuff and teams that do not play fundamentally sound volleyball will throw us off a bit.
"Another thing that I feel is a weakness is that the girls get along too well. I like to have a little adversity on my team, and the team gets along so well that sometimes I have to create it myself."
If Perry would change just one thing about her team, what would that be?
"I want them to play with more emotion, more passion," she said. "I believe that the team takes on some of the characteristics of the coach. I want them to do that. Right now the girls don't get as emotional as I would like them to. I want them to be more excited about the good things and more upset about the not so good things."
The Trojans will put themselves to the test tonight when they travel to Mishawaka for a 6 p.m. game.
Tippecanoe Valley Vikings
Head coach/years: Jon Parker, fifth year
Record/conference record: 22-11, 5-2 TRC
Key losses: Jennifer Studebaker, Inga Vandermark, Tara Baker, Kim Carr
Key returners: Jamie Doud, Lynette Wilcox, Kyleigh Gast, Lacey Stump
Opening date: 6 p.m. Aug. 15 at Wawasee
Parker: "The girls have really been working hard and our goal is to keep a winning tradition going. Every year we set goals of trying to win 20-plus games, a conference championship and a sectional championship. I believe our program's improvement has come about by two main reasons. Number one, our girls have had great attitudes. They work hard and want to do well. Number two, our assistant coach, Jon Hutton, has added a great dimension to our program. He goes to several volleyball camps during the summer to pick up new ideas. He teaches the players the fundamentals, and he puts in several hours of overtime working with individual athletes. We realize we have several shoes to fill this year, but I believe the girls are ready for that task."
NorthWood Panthers
Head coach/years: Peg Bough, 10th year
Record/conference record: 21-13/5-1 NLC
Key losses: Erin Newcomer, Shelly Stichter, Amy Hughes
Key returners: Carol Duncan, Kasey Chamberlin, Katie Chamberlin, Jessica Yoder
Opening date: 6 p.m. Aug. 15 host Penn
Bough: "We hope to be a little bit stronger because of our experience. We had a strong class of JV players that came up. We are looking for a lot from them. We hope to win a few more games than last year and be a little better than last year."
Wawasee Warriors
Head coach/years: Jason Fleming/fourth year
Record/conference record: 12-19/0-6 NLC
Key losses: Shanna Zolman, Jennifer Mason, Angie Beer, Gennie Brissette
Key returners: Candice Brown, Erica Auker, Bria Pletcher, Kathy Likens
Opening date: 6 p.m. Aug. 15 hosts Tippecanoe Valley
Fleming: "Increased blocking with a balanced offense" will be keys to the season.
Triton Trojans
Head coach/years: Gayle Perry, 15th year
Record/conference record: 25-11/6-1 NSC
Key losses: Emily Yankovich, Missy Nifong, Kristi Sechrist
Key returners: Brandie Ganshorn, Rachel Speicher, Janell Salisbury, Betsy Salyer, Amber Feldman, Beth Workman, Melissa Claxon
Opening date: 6 p.m. today at Mishawaka
Perry: "We have seven seniors this season, and we got valuable experience last year. We won the conference and made it to the regional final, but the girls are not satisfied. They are hungry and want to move on this year."
Manchester Squires
Head coach/years: Mike West, first year
Record/conference record: 6-25/NA
Key losses: Megan Goshert, Mandy Gibson
Key returners: Jessica Hicks, Jenny Brubaker, Carrie White, Jennifer Jester, Amanda Phillips, Ann Harms, Joni West, Ashley Penrod
Opening Date: 6 p.m. Aug. 21 host Maconaquah
Assistant coach Steve Olsen: "Basically we have the same varsity team. We have eight returning varsity players from last year. The five returning seniors are very excited about this season. They feel they have a lot of potential. They are planning to go all out this year. The seniors have very high hopes. They want to do the best they can and make this their last hurrah. We have some real heavy hitters on the team."
Warsaw Tigers
Head coach/years: Tanya Coon, second year
Record/conference record: 17-17/2-4 NLC
Key losses: Nerecia Taylor, Christy Colt, Laura Overton
Key Returners: Andrea Saldivar, Kara Kesler, Amie Poling, Lindsay Woods, Kristen DeGeeter, Kyla Stanley, Myra Sells
Opening Date: 9 a.m. Aug 19 at Lafayette Jefferson
Coon: "Winning and losing are byproducts of preparation. Right now we are preparing."
Whitko Wildcats
Head coach/years: Rachelle McCammon
Record/conference record: 9-19/NA
McCammon did not return numerous phone calls. [[In-content Ad]]