: He 0 ws VOLLEYBALL Balanced Knights have sights set high By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor EHMAN TWP. — Last year, the Lake-Lehman girls volleyball team was one of the premier teams in a very com- petitive Wyoming Valley Confer- ence. That might not change this season. Under second-year head coach, the Black Knights return a solid nucleus from last year’s team, which finished with an impres- sive 15-4 record. Lake-Lehman lost in the quarterfinals of the District 2 Class 2A playoffs against Bishop Hoban. The Black Knights are solid in all phases of the game, says Pick- ett. “We're really not lacking in anything,” said the former Lake- Lehman standout, who also coaches the boys team in the spring. “We have good senior leadership and we have some depth, as well. There’s always room for improvement, not nec- essarily in wins and losses, but in trying to build better players.” Led by senior Marissa Harri- son, the Black Knights could have enough talent to challenge defending District 2 champion Nanticoke Area, powerful Bishop Hoban, and defending WVC champion Crestwood for the con- ference title. The power-hitting Harrison should be able to fill in the void left by the graduation of Hannah Sorber, who was one of the WVC’s best players during the last two seasons. “Marissa is an excellent play- er,” Pickett said. “She’s a very good outside hitter and a very good all-around hitter. We have some other nice players, as well.” Joining Harrison back from last year’s starting lineup are seniors Megan Devine, Rebe- / kah Williams and Vicki La- cek. Pickett is also counting on the play of a strong sopho- more class, which includes Sarah Sorber, Lee Ann Grabski, Cathe- rine Sullivan and Christie Simo- son. “We have a tough group of son. girls,” said the Lake-Lehman coach, who was an all-state player in 2000. “Theyre getting better and they're starting to gel. The seniors give us some good lead- ership and the younger players have some talent. We're definite- ly shooting for the playoffs. Why not? But it’s too early in the sea- son to start thinking about the playoffs.” Last year’s conference Coach of the Year says there isn’t a big difference between coaching the girls and boys programs. “It’s pretty much the same,” said Pickett, who took over the reins of the girls and boys teams from longtime — and highly suc- cessful — head coach John Bara- nowski. “You have to learn how to make adjustments with the dif- ferent personalities. You have to know who you can push and who you can’t. But as far as strategy and things on the court, it’s pretty much the same.” Pickett says he’s looking for- ward to his second season with the girls. PHOTOS FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK A group of Lake-Lehman volleyball players take a break during practice. The Black Knights hope to have another successful sea- “I think we’re going to have a nice team,” he said. “It should be a fun year.” Lake-Lehman's Lee Ann Grabski gets ready for the season. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Dallas senior Theresa Hines is one of two captains on the volleyball team. Dallas hopes to serve notice By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor DALLAS TWP. — After watching the Mountaineers stum- ble to a 3-15 record last season, opposing teams might not to take the Dallas girls volleyball team very seriously this year. . And that’s just fine with head coach Mike Williams. “I'm sure teams are going to be looking past us,” said the third-year head coach, who was also an assistant coach for four years. “That’s OK. We got the chance to play a lot of young players last year. They're coming into this season hun- gry. I think we're definitely a playoff team this year.” The Mountaineers lost three players to graduation from last year’s team, which finished with a 3-15 record in the Wyoming Valley Conference. Another 10 players decided not to return this season. “They said they didn’t like losing,” said Williams, who has See DALLAS VB, Page 10 9002 '€ ¥39W31d3S 'AVANNS ‘NOILI3S TVId3dS S 39vd
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