HC volleyball sets expectations high
Here at HC, volleyball has a rich successful tradition with many former players advancing to play at the collegiate level. The team has earned a ranking of 5th in the state of Kentucky, and has a 13-2 record this season, as well as 3-0 in district games after defeating Scott County in three straight sets (25-14, 25-10, 25-15) on Thursday Sep 17.
HC volleyball head coach Dale Grupe believes his team can compete with the best.
“We have the potential to win a state championship in a sport that has never had a public school win it,” he said.
Six current HC players have been recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) as “elite rising high school volleyball student-athletes” and will be acknowledged on the 2015 AVCA Phenom List.
The six athletes include: Hallie Shelton, Darby Music, Emma Yarber, Jessica Sunnenberg, Sierra Gray and Kaitlyn Hord. These ladies will have the opportunity to attend the 2015 AVCA Phenom College Volleyball Prep Program in late December.
Grupe has lofty expectations for the team this season.
“We are a team that will be very exciting to watch,” he said. “Our goal is to compete for a state championship and have a ton of fun along the way.”
He believes his team has the ability to win, (although facing the adversity of a tougher schedule than in past years) and compete for a championship.
“We will be playing a very tough and fun schedule against some of the top teams in our state and in the country,” Grupe said.
The 5th ranked HC volleyball team travelled to Chicago, Illinois on Sep 11 for a tournament, where they went 3-1 against tough competition, defeating 19th ranked Bloomington (IL) 2-0, 25th ranked Libertyville (IL) 2-0, and Illiana Christian 2-0.
“I am looking forward to this season,” Sophomore Grace Bond said. “Being ranked 5th in the state of Kentucky is a tremendous accomplishment that we are content to have.”
Former Blue Devils: Among the several former players who have progressed to play in college, three players stand out as excelling athletes at both the collegiate and professional levels.
Gwen Rucker, who graduated from the University of Louisville, has just begun her fourth year as a professional player, committing to play for a team in Turkey. Emily Stromberg, who graduated from HC in 2012, will be playing for Berry College in Georgia. Stromberg just recorded her 1000th career kill. Similarly, a former HC player, Jordan Strickland, is currently playing for St. Catherine and was named Mid-South Conference setter of the week.
As well as these prominent players, many other volleyball athletes are playing at various colleges across the country including: Senior Nicole Jenkins (Kentucky Wesleyan), Emily McLendon (Rose Hulman), Sydney Short (Berea), Elle Barnett (South Florida State), CaLayci Coffey (Lipscomb University), and Lynsey Short (University of Cumberlands).
At HC, volleyball is one of the most award-winning sports in our history. From current to former outstanding talents, this year will be an entertaining team to watch.