Sports writer
Hustle, quick feet, and even a little bit of height make up the Peabody-Burns High School Lady Warrior 2008-09 volleyball squad.
The team is led by four-year starter and senior Bayleigh Clark. However, the team also enjoys hitting and blocking from returning junior letterwinners Danielle Savage and Julie Wedel.
Also returning in the libero position is letterwinner and junior Kaitlyn Preheim.
The team is coached by seventh-year head coach Darren Schroeder and assisted for the second year by Gretchen Berns.
The Lady Warriors were 18-16 overall last season.
“We hope to improve our league record from our 2-9 finish last season,” Schroeder said. “This team has a lot of potential because we have experience and some new players who seem to mesh well.”
The Lady Warriors played a pre-season tournament Labor Day weekend and came out with a 4-1 record and second-place league standing, losing only to Burrton.
“We had one game where our serve receive was not good, otherwise we were competitive all day,” Schroeder said. “The girls worked well as a team and they really got a feel of what it was like to work hard and have the work pay off.’’
Clark runs the team as the setter. She makes good decisions and has a great feel for where to put the ball.
Clark will be relied on to lead the offense for the 2008 season.
Two other seniors, Clarrisa Terronez and Alex Holm-McDowell will see time in the specialty department.
Terronez’s strength comes from her powerful serve and McDowell will fill in many places as a utility player.
The junior crop includes Savage, Wedel, Preheim, and Felecia Pohlman.
Savage is a five-foot, nine-inch force at the middle blocking position. Wedel, 5-8, helps stretch the opposing defense with her outside hitting attack.
Preheim covers the floor to let teammates get into position for the attack, and Pohlman plays a big part in the return game with quick back row play.
Sophomores Embry Hodges and Michaela Methvin have a lot to learn but already fit the scheme of play.
Both have height with Hodges at 5-7 and Methvin at 5-11.
Even though Hodges is a newcomer, she is steady at the net and Methvin, also a young player, has to take care of the middle with blocking and hitting duties.