BLACKSVILLE — If opponents of the Clay-Battelle volleyball team can learn anything from Elyse Moore’s father, Josh Moore, it might just be to “run away.”
At least that’s the advice to boys when they reach Elyse, and her voicemail: “If you’re a boy calling for Elyse, run away,” Joe Moore said.
Elyse and her twin sister, Lydia, are two key returning players for the Cee-Bees this season as they look to win a third-straight Class A sectional under third-year coach Matt Wood.
Clay-Battelle lost seven seniors from a season ago when it finished 22-16, with a loss to Pendleton County in the regional round.
Replacing that many players could be tough for Wood and his Cee-Bees, but the head coach seemed confident about another playoff run.
“I think this group needs to get comfortable with each other,” Wood said. “They haven’t really played together before, but I think once they get comfortable, they are going to be pretty good.”
The aforementioned Elyse Moore returns as the setter for Clay-Battelle while Lydia Moore is also back as an outside hitter. The twins obviously have good chemistry, but Elyse said she doesn’t play favorites while quarterbacking the Cee-Bees’ offensive attack.
“I think (Lydia) definitely complains when she doesn’t get the ball enough,” Elyse Moore said. “If Lydia is having a great game, then I give it to her. That’s the same for everybody on our team.”
Last season, Clay-Battelle started off slowly with four straight losses and a 3-7 record through the first 10 games. But then something clicked for Wood and his team.
“We just got used to playing with each other,” Wood said. “We got more comfortable with each other and then we started playing our game.”
To combat a repeat of that slow start, Wood and the Cee-Bees put in some hard work during the allotted three-week period and were even able to play a couple of tournaments together.
“For the most part, we don’t have a lot of varsity experience,” Wood said. “We have several players who played here and there when we were winning or losing big.”
There are 19 girls out for the team and Wood mentioned that it is a very fluid roster that might change from contest to contest. However, there are a few players who have started to stand out.
Freshman middle hitter Nevaeh St. Clair has worked her way into the starting lineup while junior Ruby Owens, who saw lots of time on junior varsity last year, will likely be an outside hitter and play in the middle.
Also in the mix to start are seniors Ella Lybarger, a defensive specialist, and outside hitter Megan Snodgrass. Wood said he is excited about the play of sophomore Ginger Gross, who will man the libero position, while Breanna Swaniger is also going to see time at setter.
With so many new faces, there are bound to be some hiccups with the Cee-Bees this season, but Lydia Moore said she was confident about the 2023 team.
“Our passing still needs to improve, and we need to limit our mistakes and our errors,” Lydia Moore said. “Our hitters can really be immaculate when we get a good pass.”
Wood said he made the schedule tougher this season in hopes of reaping the benefits later in the year.
“I would really like to see us repeat as Mason-Dixon Conference champs and sectional champs,” Wood said. “We have fallen short in regionals the last two years. I would like to see us get over that hump and make it to the state tournament.”
Clay-Battelle begins its season on Aug. 23 when it hosts Fairmont Senior and Valley Wetzel in a tri-match that begins at 5:30 p.m.
By ERIC HERTER
TWEET @DomPostSports
