Snowbarger expects 2009’s youth movement to pay dividends

  • By Brian Questel
  • August 25, 2010
  • 257
                        
083010 volleyball preview promo: Generals spikers looking to regain spot at top Snowbarger expects 2009’s youth movement to pay dividends By Brian Questel Quite simply, Wooster volleyball and .500, along with an early exit from the playoffs, don’t go together. Two decades of excellence have proven that, yet that was the situation that the Generals found themselves in at the end of last season. Head coach Jen Snowbarger is looking to turn that around this year with a deep and veteran squad of seniors and juniors who battled through last year’s trials. Not that it will be easy, playing in one of the state’s toughest volleyball conferences and then seeking out other quality opponents, but Snowbarger is excited about the transformation she has seen in her team. “We have a difficult schedule,” said Snowbarger. “My philosophy is to be the best, you have to play the best. From our conference to our non-league games, there is never a game that can be overlooked. “Even our scrimmages are like that,” she added. “We just went to the Best In Ohio. To be a part of that and to think how Wooster is thought of… to be invited is something. We played Toledo St. Ursuline and their average height is over 6-feet. We hung with them and I was proud of our fight. The ultimate goal is winning and hopefully by the tournament we can go as far as we can.” Wooster graduated only two seniors – Jade Craycraft, who is at Div. I Liberty University on a full ride, and Hannah Peters. That led Snowbarger to rotate in a number of players last season, and the result is that she has 10 letter winners on the roster. That list includes four seniors – Cameron DelPra and Alissa McFarland, both middle hitters, libero Leesha Price and outside hitter Emily Kacsandi. There are six juniors who earned a varsity W in 2009, with Brittany Nicholson returning as setter, outside hitter Erin Klamic, right-side hitter Emily Crawford, and defenders Jenna Gingery, Aimee Burgess and Carmen Soranno. One freshman, Syd Logee, has made the roster as an outside hitter. “Last year we were definitely young and you have mixed feelings about that,” said Snowbarger. “It’s their first year on the varsity … and you hope they don’t settle for that level of achievement because they got to play.” She doesn’t think that will happen, though, based on this summer’s tournament play and the lead-in to the regular season. “The sophomore-to-junior year is where girls mature and … where girls develop (their game),” said Snowbarger. “Cameron DelPra has come on strong … and Brittany Nicholson and Erin Klamic may be our most improved over the summer. I’ve seen a lot of growth. “I’m excited. Teams we were losing to at the beginning of the summer in scrimmages we were beating at the end of the summer. The strides we made this summer were vast. If we continue to show that growth, it’s hard to predict what can happen.” Wooster opens its season Aug. 31 at home against OCC foe Mansfield Senior.


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