MORGANTOWN — Head coach Nick Lusk and the University High School volleyball team have a lot to be excited about coming into the 2023 season. After finishing 2022 just under .500 at 15-16-1, the Hawks bring back nearly the entire roster from last season and also have some incoming freshmen that could see some quality playing time and make a positive impact.
“I thought our summer was good this year and we’ve had a great turnout,” Lusk said. “Another thing I’ve been happy with early on is our leadership. We were young last year, sometimes had eight sophomores playing during a match, and the year of experience that our players got and then the offseason work they did is awesome.”
The three main leaders for Lusk and his team this year, Addison Kitzmiller, Kate Williams and Caroline Adams, have all been crucial for the younger players this summer, according to their head coach. Each of them said having so many players show up in the summer does a lot for the team during the season.
“Our three-week period went really well, we had a lot of people come out,” Kitzmiller said. “We had the opportunity to play some good competition also this summer and that’s helped with the team chemistry early on.”
Williams will be one of the stronger hitters on the front line for the Hawks, as she is able to use a long reach to swing her arm powerfully through the ball.
Adams is emerging as one of the more vocal leaders on the team, and Kitzmiller can move around all areas of the court. Each said the experience of last season gave them something they can hold on to that may help them this season when it comes to the team and being someone to look up to.
“I think our team has a strong relationship on and off the court,” Williams said. “We’ve all played together through the years and built those bonds and that helps the team chemistry be what it is.”
The theme of the team is a word that comes up often in their conversations, together.
“Getting everyone together and on the same page going into the school year and the first game is what I focus on,” Lusk said. “For the fact that we have some new faces in the freshman and girls that didn’t play varsity last year. We want to make sure everyone is comfortable.”
UHS will begin its season Saturday, Aug. 26 at Oak Glen for a tournament. The following week, the Hawks will play their home opener, welcoming Parkersburg South and Bridgeport for a tri-match on Tuesday, Aug. 29. They will host a quad-match the next day, Aug. 30, with Buckhannon-Upshur, East Fairmont, and Brooke making the trip to Baker’s Ridge.
