Volleyball coach summarizes season
Staff writer
Peabody-Burns volleyball team wrapped up its season Thursday with a year-end review and party. An evening of fun capped the 13-15 season for the Lady Warriors.
First-year coach Darrin Schroeder was pleased with the team's performance this year, but looks to next year for better execution from his team.
Six of the seven principal players will return to the court next year, to be joined by a junior varsity squad that made many improvements during the season.
"We met a lot of our goals this year," stated Coach Schroeder. "We placed third in the Solomon tourney, third in Olpe, and qualified for the upper division of the Heart of America league tournament. We also finished eighth in league play."
"I was really impressed with our crowd support, the parents, and the support we received from the community.
"Our starters this year learned a lot about playing together as a team. Gretchen Berns, named a second-team selection in the HOA voting, showed tremendous play and leadership," Schroeder continued.
"Marie Unruh, coming off an injury last year, made great improvement. She is an outstanding competitor. Ashley Miller was a great addition to the passing and setting games. She also served very well.
"Shannon Welsh had a huge desire to do well for the team and that made her step up her level of play. Dalli Hammond is a great competitor with very steady play and good back row presence. Sandra McLeod was our unsung hero. She made plays that really mattered at times when we needed them.
"And Eve Benyasova was a great addition to the team. We were really lucky to get a foreign exchange student with volleyball experience."
Schroeder summed up his first year coaching, "I couldn't have asked for a better group to work with. Other teams had to play well to beat us. This was our year to earn respect from other teams. I think we did that. My question for the girls now is, 'What's next?' "
2002 statistics
Gretchen Berns, 116 kills, 116 blocks.
Eve Benyusova, 63 kills, 56 blocks, 21 assists.
Dalli Hammond, 15 kills, 5 blocks.
Sandra McLeod, 41 kills, 22 blocks.
Ashley Miller, 62 assists.
Marie Unruh, 62 kills, 40 blocks, 122 assists.
Shannon Welsh, 24 kills, 20 blocks.
