BY MATTHEW PEASLEE
The USA women’s volleyball team started its run through the summer Olympics with a strong unbeaten streak. The Morgantown High volleyball team followed the Americans closely, hoping for a similar start to their own season.
“We actually follow the Gold Medal Squared technique and style of volleyball that the USA team implements,” MHS volleyball coach Erica Manor said. “We are excited to track the team’s progress in the Olympics and see volleyball played at the highest level.”
Maybe it was the excitement of the Olympics, or maybe it’s the stability Manor provides for the program, but the Mohigans are seeing a renaissance in volleyball this summer. Nearly 40 players have been in the gym working out with the volleyball team in recent weeks.
The team even had a red-white-and-blue-themed practice at the end of July to celebrate the Olympics.
“The individuals who will be coming back out — that’s an exciting group for us,” Manor said. “We are also looking forward to some new girls trying out.”
Last year, Morgantown won the OVAC, sectional and regional championships. MHS made it to the second round at the state tournament in Charleston for the first time in many years.
This is Manor’s third year as head coach for the Mohigans. She was one of the best prep volleyball players in the state a decade ago, playing for Musselman in the Eastern Panhandle. Manor helped Musselman win a state championship in 2008 before playing collegiately at Liberty University.
She now works for the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and has a passion for educating young people and helping develop their special skills. Manor wants to give her team plenty of memorable experiences to cherish their high school years. She has been trying to take the team out of state for offseason tournaments to get a look at stiffer competition and gain camaraderie off the court.
“It’s definitely been a learning curve in my early years as a coach,” Manor said. “It’s been good for the girls and myself. I continue to get to know them and I can work on my own coaching style based off what works for them. Sometimes, I feel like I’m too harsh on them. Other times, I realized I need to soften up. They may perceive something differently than the way I thought I presented it. I have grown with my own personal coaching style and have adapted to what works with our set of players.”
Manor expects the team to be led by several seniors and other players who have a wealth of experience on the court. Senior libero Ella Voorhees is a returning floor general, while senior Grace Washburn is one of the team’s strongest hitters.
“She’s been in our middle for three years,” Manor said. “She brings seniority and experience playing at the varsity level for her entire career.”
Washburn is joined in the middle by sophomore Issy Grushecky, who Manor said helps form a true “powerhouse” in the middle.
“They’re both very strong in the way that they hit,” Manor said. “Issy is a very strong person, she knows how to turn the ball and smack the ball hard to produce points for us.”
Other impactful players include Abby Arbogast, Asia Halbritter, Kaitlyn Anderson, Emily Goldcamp, Sarah Brown, Hannah Marks and Paige Brock, plus others who may be trying out for the first time.
“We’re coming back with a lot of experienced, veteran players,” Manor said. “There’s not going to be, necessarily, a lot of new fundamentals that need to be discussed. With most of the team at an older age, they know the drill and they have the experience. It’s exciting to have a veteran roster.”
Alayna Corwin, a graduating senior in the class of 2021, signed a letter of intent to play Division I volleyball at Marshall.
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