Inexperience often does not bode well for a volleyball program in the competitive Class 4A Narrows League.
But second-year South Kitsap coach CJ Scott hopes his team’s offseason work can combat some of that.
“Our chemistry will probably be much better this year as a group simply because they spent so much time together during the summer,” he said.
In addition to the 18 players who attended the team’s summer camp at Washington State University, Scott and his players arranged several activities, including a team bonfire and regular retreats to Long Lake.
“I know this year we definitely all have great chemistry,” senior outside hitter Shannon Laupola said. “I know the summer activities the coaches had us do have really bonded all of the girls.
“I think this season we’ll be really good with communicating with each other.”
In an effort to reinforce that during the season, the team will travel to the Sept. 27 Anacortes Tournament and the Oct. 4 Glacier Peak Tournament in Snohomish.
“We just want to get away from other teams we might normally see,” Scott said. “They’ll get a lot of quality play out of those tournaments.”
While the Wolves only return a pair of seniors with substantial varsity experience, setter Zoe Conger and Laupola, who moved from middle blocker, Scott thinks this squad is more athletic than last year’s team, which finished 7-9 overall and 4-8 in league play.
That starts with Laupola, who also competes in basketball and track at South.
“Shannon’s a great three-sport athlete,” Scott said. “She can jump; she’s strong. The only thing she needs to work on is her control and decision-making.”
Her counterpart will be Natalie Olson, who is one of three players making the jump from C team to varsity.
“She can jump out of the gym,” said Scott, adding that Olson did not play at the junior-high level. “She just needs to progress a little more. She showed up last year as an athlete and has improved a lot.”
Laupola’s move outside opens a spot for the squad’s only freshman, Sarah Carlson, at middle blocker. The 6-foot-1 Carlson is the tallest player on the roster. Scott said he would keep his instructions “basic” with Carlson in order to ease the transition. Carlson will be paired with junior Courtney Schmidt.
“Courtney Schmidt has improved dramatically,” Scott said.
Juniors Baylie Myers and Emma York will serve as the setters.
“Our setters are young experience-wise, but they’re talented,” Scott said.
South’s libero is sophomore Tia Lawrence.
Laupola likes the composition of the roster.
“We definitely have a wide variety of people who can do a bunch of different things,” she said. “We have some good hitters, a really good back row and passers. I’m just really excited for this year.”
The Wolves will need that in the competitive 4A Narrows. Bellarmine Prep is the two-time defending 4A state champion, while Olympia won it in 2012.
“Bellarmine’s probably still the favorite,” Scott said. “They lost the best player in the state in Courtney Schwan, but they’ll reload like they always do. Olympia and Gig Harbor will be right there.”
Last year, South finished 0-6 against those schools. The Wolves did not win a game during any of those contests.
“We need to be more competitive,” Laupola said. “Not a lot of girls know that level of competitiveness — even myself.”
South opened league play Thursday at Bellarmine Prep. Before that match, Scott said he had clear expectations for the program.
“I expect us to be better,” he said. “What that means as far as placing — we don’t know yet. I want to start knocking off those teams ahead of us and competing with them on a closer level.”
The Wolves only have reached state once, in 2000. When he was hired last year, Scott spoke about spurring interest in the program among youths. Since then, Scott had a youth recreation league with more than 100 participants. He also said 90 girls participated in the team’s summer camp.
“We want to keep growing,” Scott said. “The more bodies you have, the more athletes you’re going to find. Hopefully, that results in more wins eventually.”
