NTL VOLLEYBALL: SENIOR HEAVY TOWANDA EXCITED FOR 2022 SEASON (2022-08-25)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
After a few tough years Towanda volleyball believes this is the year they bounce back. They’re celebrating coach Linda Messner’s 50th season at the helm, and they’re led by a group of battle tested seniors.

“I’m both excited, and nervous, mainly because it’s my senior year,” said setter Brea Overpeck. “There’s a lot that goes son in your senior year, but I was ready the minute softball ended, to be honest. Volleyball was not really my first sport, but it was definitely my second and I grew a love for it.”

The Knights return most of their top stat getters from a year ago, led by reigning NTL Offensive Player of the Year Paige Manchester, who finished with 253 kills in 2022. Gracie Schoonover, who had 119, also returns.

Overpeck is back to set them, as she had 245 assists, while back-up setter Shaylee Greenland, who had 53 last season, will also be there.

Defensively, they return three players who had over 100 digs a year ago: Manchester (179), Greenland (109), and Addy Maynard (102). That defense will be helped by their big frontline, which boasted 158 blocks in 2021.

Manchester led the way with 77 blocks, followed by Winter Saxer (39), and Schoonover (36).

“It’s a very big advantage because we have four girls that are almost six-foot, so we can block,” Schoonover remarked.

Overpeck is happy to have them, though she does feel the pressure to get her sets just right.

“A lot of it is on you,” said Overpeck. “Like, if you don’t have a good set, it’s most likely on going to be a good hit, but it’s fun to be the setter.”

And the backline is definitely happy to have them there.

“Defense is going to be crucial,” Aziza Ismailova remarked. “But, especially with blocking, it’s not as bad.”

There’s a lot of big hitters in the league, and Towanda faces a few of them right off the bat when they travel to Canton next Tuesday, so they’re backline is going to be tested.

“It’s a pretty big job back there,” said Maynard. “You’ve just got to keep your head in the game, and you have to have faith in yourself.”

Up front, Manchester has been working hard to continue to dominate the league.

“I’m working on my hitting, and blocking,” she said. “Building that chemistry back up because we really haven’t seen each other since last in school.”

They missed out on districts by one win a year ago, so that’s obviously a goal for this season.

“Hopefully we can practice hard, and get some wins,” Kaitlynn Williams said. “Maybe we need to work on teamwork, be a better teammate to each other, and take practice more seriously.”

They’re also hoping to utilize their deep bench, especially up front.

“I want to do better than I did in past seasons,” Saxer said. “I want to over-exceed expectations. There’s enough of us to move around, and it’s just that closer bond. It makes the the whole environment better to play with once you get used to each other.”

They also have a strong younger group coming in that they would like to utilize.

“I am excited my sister is a freshman, so I’m excited to come back after senior year, and see how they’re doing,” said Ismailova. “I definitely feel like she looks up to, and I just want to be the best for her to look up to.”

With powerhouses like NPL, Williamson, and Athens in the league, it’s a tough road to that division title for Towanda, but they don’t want to sell themselves short.

“I think we do,” Williams said about having a shot to bring home an NTL championship. “If we put our all in, and practice our butts off, we will definitely have a shot.”

SCHEDULE

Aug. 27 - Towanda at Shamokin, 11 a.m.

Aug. 30 - Towanda at NEB, 4 p.m.

Sep. 1 - Towanda at Wyalusing, 4 p.m.

Sep. 8 - NPM at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Sep. 13 - Williamson at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Sep. 15 - Towanda at Wellsboro, 5:30 p.m.

Sep. 20 - Towanda at Troy, 4 p.m.

Sep. 22 - Athens at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Sep. 24 - Hughesville at Towanda, 11 a.m.

Sep. 26 - Montoursville at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Sep. 27 - Wellsboro at Towanda, 6 p.m.

Sep. 29 - Towanda at NPM, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5 - Wyalusing at Towanda, 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 - Troy at Towanda, 10 a.m.

Oct. 12 - Towanda at Williamson, 4 p.m.

Oct. 15 - Towanda at Warrior Run, 11 a.m.

Oct. 20 - Milton at Towanda, 6 p.m.