Fairlea – The theme regarding the 2020 season around the state is often one of frustration due to COVID restrictions.
The Greenbrier East volleyball team could relate.
After dropping the opening match of the season to Bridgeport, the Spartans lost just once over their next 34 regular season matches.
The lone loss came in a tight match against eventual state champion, Musselman.
However, prior to sectional play, the Greenbrier East juggernaut was derailed by a three-week layoff due to COVID quarantines.
The Spartans never quite got their rhythm back after the quarantine period and the rust showed on the floor.
After dropping the sectional final to Woodrow Wilson, East was eliminated in regional play by George Washington. The Patriots would go on to finish runner-up at the state tournament.
“Last year was a great season and probably one of the best we have ever had. It just had a frustrating end to it for many different reasons,” head coach Matt Sauvage said.
Hoping the frustrations are in the past, Greenbrier East looks for another successful season in 2021.
If the Spartans are successful this season, they will do so with several new faces at the varsity level.
Lost to graduation is West Virginia Volleyball Player of the year, Chylyn Pate, as well as second team all-state outside hitter, Madison Boswell.
The losses were magnified with the unexpected departure of rising sophomore Bali Coles and a defensive specialist that decided to focus on basketball.
“Those four players contributed a bunch. We lost three-and-a-half out six positions, so we will be replacing a lot this year,” Sauvage said. “Luckily we have some people coming back that are talented and have some experience. We will be relying heavily on them to bring the others up with them.”
Leading the returning players are all-stater Eoudia Savage at the libero position along with senior middle-hitters Brooklynn Morgan and Nevaeh Wooding.
“Getting your middles back is always a nice feeling to have. Both of them are multi-talented as far as hitting and blocking,” Sauvage said. “They are very unselfish. They know they block first and if they get a swing, that is great. However, they will be two of our better swings this year. We will use them a lot. In serve-receive they may get a few swings outside, but as a whole they will be best utilized in the middle.”
Sauvage went on to say he will utilize seniors in five of the six positions this season.
Included in that group of seniors will be Ella Asbury, Lauren Smith and Julia Smith. Asbury will take over one of the outside hitting positions. Julia Smith will step into the vacant setter spot, while Lauren Smith returns as a defensive specialist.
“It is nice to have the thought processes of the seniors and the way they can lead the team,” Sauvage said.
Sisters Josi Irvin (junior) and Hailey Irvin (freshman) are expected to contribute as defensive specialists with Hailey seeing time as a setter.
Mollie Pack is a freshman that Sauvage says will have to jump up into the front row along with sophomore Lily McHale.
“Lily played middle on JV last year and was a good player. She has stepped up so far this year and I expect big things from her in the future. We will see if it happens this year, but the ceiling is high for her,” Sauvage said.
New faces and new positions will likely equate to some extra patience from Sauvage.
“I have told them that this will be a work in progress, but I don’t call it a rebuilding year because we have talent to win now,” Sauvage said. “Hopefully it will be a quick learning curve. If not, we want to be ready by early October. We have the talent to be there soon, we just have to see how fast it develops.”
While Sauvage agrees that patience will be a key for his team, the expectations are the same as any previous year.
“Every year it is my expectation to make it to the state tournament. Part of the reason is they need to have that mindset,” Sauvage said. “Over the last 7-to-8 years we have put our name on the map and the girls want to keep it there.”