NTL VOLLEYBALL: NEW LOOK TROJANS LOOK TO KEEP STRONG PLAY GOING IN 2021 (September 1, 2021)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Like a lot of teams this year, the Troy volleyball team is in a state of flux. They graduated nine seniors from a year ago, a team that rallied to make districts, so if they’re going to get back to the playoffs, it’ll be a different group leading the way.

The outgoing class accounted for 271 of the team’s 374 kills last season, 51 of their 54 blocks, and 761 of the team’s 941 digs.

“I’m pretty upset losing the big senior class, because they were really good,” said new senior Diana Samuels. “They were really fun to be around.”

On the good side, one of their top players from a year ago, Meredith Cole, returns. Cole led the team in kills (100), while also getting 149 digs.

However, they’re going to have to build a new nucleus around her if they want to make districts again.

“We’re working on bettering our setting, and our over passing,” said senior Jaylyn Darrow. “(We’re) getting better at having a better platform to play better.”

They’re also doing a mix of conditioning and skills training to get up to speed.

“Right now, we’re working on footwork and speed,” said Kaitlyn Ensminger. “Doing the conditioning.”

With all those kills they need to make up, hitting has been a big point of emphasis this year.

“That’s definitely one of my main focuses at the moment,” remarked Darrow. “Getting that over and in.”

“We’re definitely working on our hitting more, as a team,” Tailynn Stahle remarked. “There’s more individuals that need to work on their hitting.”

The seniors are also ready to step into their roles as leaders of the younger kids.

“We definitely want to hype each other up,” Darrow said. “To help each other, better each other, and better our team. We’re just doing our best to support each other, and our coaches - overall, to help each other out.”

“It’s a lot of responsibility, especially to look over the younger players,” said Samuels. “I’m really looking forward to working with the new girls, because there’s a lot.”

As they work in new players, the Trojans also know communication will be key.

“We just need to work better together,” said Ensminger. “Just talk more.”

One big goal of this season will be to start out a little stronger. They began last year 2-5 before going 5-1 the second half of the year to make districts. That included a 4-game win streak, where they took three of them in 5-game sets: Wyalusing, Towanda, and Wellsboro.

Their final three wins - South Williamsport, Towanda, and Wellsboro - were all back-to-back-to-back, and they needed all of them to get into districts.

“We wanted our seniors to have a good season for all the years they worked hard,” Stahle said about the finish. “So we just pushed ourselves harder to make it to districts.”

Now they’re hoping to use that same kind of energy to start out the year.

“We’re definitely going to keep up the same energy that we had last year towards the end of the year,” said Stahle. “Just keep pushing ourselves.”

They had a lot of fun during that run, and that’s something they want to carry over, too.

“We get really into the game, and we realize we need to have fun,” remarked Samuels. “Sit back, relax, and cheer each other on.”

Their final game of the year was a 3-0 playoff loss to Wellsboro in the Hornet’s Nest, and they want to get that contest out of their system.

“We weren’t too great our last game,” Samuels admitted. “We kind of struggled. I feel like we need to let loose, and I feel like we can learn from that.”

ROSTER

Kaitlyn Ensminger

Diana Samuels

Tailynn Stahle

Jalyn Darrow

Meredith Cole

Madison Vargas

Alexis Bellinger

Alyssa Johnson

Jalayna Young

Lexi Newcomb

Savannah Spencer

Tyra Williams

Lydia Lewis

Rachel Jackson

Rachel Kirkman

Rylee Harding

Sarah Zimmerman

Taleka Stahle

Neveah Watson

Alannah Porter

Ava Lyon

Chloe Foster

Edyne Mosher

Josie Kerrick

Kali Ayres

Lexi Kjellander

Marlee Stanton

Natalie Pesesky

Olivia Champluvier

Trinity King

SCHEDULE

Sep. 4: Troy at Williamson Tourn. 9 a.m.

Sep. 7: Troy at Wyalusing, 7:30 p.m.

Sep. 8: Sayre at Troy, 7:15 p.m.

Sep. 14: Troy at NP-Liberty, 7 p.m.

Sep. 16: Troy at Sayre, 7:15 p.m.

Sep. 18: Wellsboro at Troy, 7:15 p.m.

Sep. 21: Troy at NEB, 7:15 p.m.

Sep. 23: CV at Troy, 7:15 p.m.

Sep. 28: Troy at Williamson, 7:15 p.m.

Sep. 30: Athens at Troy, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 2: Troy hosts Tourn., 9 a.m.

Oct. 5: Towanda at Troy, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 12: Canton at Troy, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 14: Troy at Towanda, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 18: Troy at Athens, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 21: Troy at NPL, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 23: Troy at Canton, 7:15 p.m.

Oct. 28: Troy at Wellsboro, 7:15 p.m.