KHS Volleyball

The Kennett High volleyball team is looking to make some noise in Class I this season and based upon the team's play in the season-opener last Wednesday against St. Thomas there's good reason to be optimistic. The Eagles, who have never defeated the Saints had the visitors on the ropes before coming up just short in an exciting 3-2 match."I don't like losing but there were so many positives in the match," Ron Danforth, Eagles' head coach, said. "I think it shows what we can do; I'm proud of the girls."If you ask Coach Danforth how his team will be these season, he immediately smiles and is excited about the fall. The Eagles with eight returning seniors and a total of 27 players out for this year's squad, post-season is the goal."We had an awesome preseason," Danforth said. "We got a lot of work in in the week we were here in our gym. There were four eight-hour days and one five-hour day. The only squawking the next day was, 'Coach, I'm sore.' I told them that must mean they're doing it right... Along with an eight-hour tournament in Plymouth (KHS was third) we probably played 55 hours of volleyball in one week." "We're going to be okay," he continued. "I think we'll be competitive. The girls have been playing well in preseason. I think with eight seniors coming back and the experience we have, this is going to be a good year for us. We're shooting for the top 10."Danforth and the Eagles have been working on a new position being added by the New Hampshire Athletic Association called a "libero," which is optional this year but will become mandatory next year. The libero is a designated back-row player, intended to be used as a ball-control specialist. The libero is allowed to replace any player in the back row without counting as a substitution."It's a defensive specialist," Danforth said. "... I think the libero makes us a better team. It gives some of our girls the chance to relax a bit and then do what needs to be done."Holly Guinard, Kira MacDonald, Amanda Hoyt and Whitney Merrill are this year's captains and Danforth is pleased with each one's leadership skills. "I ask for a hundred percent and they give me 110 every time," he said. "This is a really focussed group. It's fun for a coach when you don't have to put out a lot of fires. I think we've been able to build a program the girls are proud of. I think people are going to find a lot to like about this year's team, we're going to make some noise."Danforth is looking for fellow returning letter winners Alyssa Ohman, Phoenix Bell and April Deschenes to play key roles on this year's squad. They will be joined by newcomer Casandra Land, Whitney Prey, Alicia DiMatteo and swing players Jody Sandonato and Jess Mason. Danforth plans to carry 12 players on the varsity squad with some floating back and forth on the junior varsity under coach Michelle LaRue. "Michelle is a big addition to the program," Danforth said. "She takes a lot of the load off me and brings plenty of experience out of the Gilford program."Envisioning a lot of five game matches (played to 25 points, win by two), Danforth has put plenty of emphasis on conditioning and his team has responded to the challenge. "We're much better conditioned than in the past," he said. "I think the girls are a lot more healthy and that's going to make a difference." The Eagle were back on the court Monday against Pelham (results not known as of press time) and host Oyster River this Wednesday in a 4 p.m. junior varsity match with the varsity to follow at roughly 5 p.m.