Shannon Harney tips the ball over the net during a game against Voorhees on Oct. 4, 2013. The Bulldogs lost 2-0. (Photo by Mark Wetherbee, Jr.)
Astrid Hunter returns a shot Oct. 4, 2013 against Voorhees as Erica West (27) and Aidan Cage watch. The Bulldogs lost 2-0. (Photo by Mark Wetherbee, Jr.)
Volleyball has, for the most part, evaded Mercer County high schools, but that changed at Hopewell Valley this year. All it took was a vote.
Last year, students filled out surveys to gauge interest in and availability for boys’ and girls’ volleyball. The kids were receptive, and the girls started their inaugural season early this fall. The boys play in the spring, and Timberlane Middle School recently adopted an intramural program to encourage early development.
The high school holds a popular tournament just before winter break in addition to its “Overnight Volleyball” event, where students play from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“There was immense recreational popularity, so I guess it translated to popularity for a team,” sophomore Megan Heimbach said.
Head coach Kim Shelus said the initial plan was to field only junior varsity teams, but the girls’ turnout was so large—over 40 players—they decided to instate a varsity squad, too. The majority of the girls, though, had no experience in the sport outside of gym class.
“It really started from scratch, and we’re working our way up,” Shelus said. “They’re definitely learning a lot of basics, a lot of rules. It was definitely an eye-opening experience trying to get the hitting and the serving.”
Junior Chloe DePiano said the team’s early practices could only be described as “awkward.” None of the girls were used to the game’s motions, so it took a while before they really started to gel.
“The whole team had no idea what we were doing,” she said. “It was definitely a new experience for everybody. We were all trying to get into the volleyball mode. After a few weeks, we started getting to know each other. There’s only 12 of us, so we were able to get to know each other, get along with each other, and learn different steps and moves we could do since we got comfortable.”
They have certainly made progress since September.
“Sometimes in the middle of the games we’ll get calls and we don’t know what they are, but we figure it out,” Heimbach said. “We’re learning a lot, but it was definitely difficult to get the stuff down and to build upon the foundation of basic skill. Learning the bumps and sets was definitely hard, but once you get the skill, the accuracy, and the precision, it’s better.”
The Bulldogs have won one match this season, but they aren’t discouraged. They’re playing against established teams, many of them from volleyball-rich North Jersey, while trying to adapt to a totally new sport.
“The first game was against a very good program,” Shelus said. “Having the spikes come straight down was definitely an eye-opening experience. They’re getting it now. We’re making progress. We’re starting to play back those hits, which is awesome.”
Many of the girls play spring sports like soccer and lacrosse. Volleyball’s condensed playing field, they said, was hard to get used to at first.
“It’s very hands-on,” senior Erica West said. “We’re on such a small court that you really have to communicate and work with your team. It’s more of being aware of your surroundings, which is new for me. You can play balls up high. It is much different.”
Heimbach agreed. The smaller space, she said, forces a new breed of teamwork.
“It’s competitive, but it’s a different kind of competitive,” she said. “You’re on one side of the court with your team. You have to have immense trust in your team.”
Shelus said her team is doing a good job of staying positive.
“We are going up against a lot of programs that are already developed and have a bunch of years under their belts,” she said. “The girls are doing a very good job of taking what they’re doing well and working with it and seeing the progress of themselves, not so much what’s on the scoreboard.”
Hopewell’s local opponents are limited to schools like Lawrenceville and Montgomery. The team sometimes travels upwards of an hour and a half for away games because of the lack of Mercer County squads.
The girls hope this changes soon.
“I think it’s possible,” DePiano said. “Showing how much we can progress from the start of the season to now, it gives the opportunity for other schools to see that it worked out for us.”
Shelus has “high hopes,” due in part to the fact that Timberlane’s students are learning the sport, too.
“Once other teams develop in Mercer County, we’ll have one year up on them,” she said. “It’s definitely a good way to look at it. I think once everyone starts and once we have some returning players, the program will definitely develop from there. We’re excited as to where it can go.”
,
