Northern Tier Sports Report

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NTL VOLLEYBALL: NEB LOOKS TO KEEP MOMENTUM GOING IN 2024 (2024-08-21)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
For Northeast Bradford volleyball 2024 is the sequel to their historic 2023 season, which saw them win their first ever league and district titles. They lost some key players, but return much of their core as they work to find new co-stars.

“As we gear up for the new season our volleyball team is riding high off our first ever district championship win in the 2A division,” said coach Vanessa Perez. “With the majority of our squad returning, including our powerhouse senior hitter and our libero, who anchors a formidable defense, we are setting our sets on back to back titles. This year, we’ll be competing in the single A division, and the entire team is excited about the possibility of bringing home another championship. The expectations are high, but we’re ready to rise to the challenge.”

That powerhouse hitter is Abby O’Connor, who went off for 293 kills a year ago to go with 32 blocks. Kiarra DeLancey led the team defensively with 305 digs, while they also bring back Toni Herb (159 digs, 147 kills), Kelsea Moore (112 digs), and back up middle hitter Abby Chobot (11 blocks, 23 kills).

“It gives me a lot of confidence,” O’Connor said about those four returning. “The other girls that we’re bringing up from the JV team, they’re going to be able to fit in since there’s so many key players. It’s just like our seniors last year left really big holes to fill, but I think that the girls coming up will be able to adjust since they’re with us.”

After coming up just short in both the league season and playoffs the past couple of seasons now NEB will be the team to beat in the NTL.

“I think it’s going to be a good challenge for us,” O’Connor said. “Everyone wants to take us down, but I think we’re definitely ready for the challenge.”

“We’re just as excited to do it again this year,” added DeLancey. “I think that seeing what we could do last year after working so hard all those years before, I think it just shows what we’re capable of.”

Replacing setter Gabby Susanj, who finished with over 1,000 career assists, will be the first order of business. They have four players working for that position, with Moore getting the nod early on.

“(Susanj) set incredible milestones, but we have someone that would kind of back up set for us last year in practice,” DeLancey said. “She’s definitely been working, and it looks like she’s going to do a good job replacing her.”

“She’s been doing a great job,” remarked Herb. “She’s been getting pulled aside to work with our new coach, and she’s been doing really well.”

Replacing outside hitter Emma Neuber will be another order of business, and it looks that will be Herb’s job. She’ll be going from the number two outside hitter role to the top spot.

“I’ve been working really hard over the summer,” said Herb. “I’ve been listening to coach, and watching videos, and trying to practice to get better. I think I’m going to be okay in that position.”

The pieces are still there, now it’s a matter of putting them together to make another run.

“We definitely have high goals seeing what we did last year, especially competing against schools that are so much bigger than us,” DeLancey said. “Coming from such a small school, I think being able to compete with teams that are right there with us in size, and hopefully competition, I think that we’re looking to do really big things this year again.”

ROSTER

Abby O’Connor

Toni Herb

Kiarra DeLancey

Kelsea Moore

Abby Chobot

Kayah Frasier

Zaelaa Lane

Sayde Heines

Madalyn Smith

SCHEDULE

Aug. 23 vs Mountain View, 7 p.m.