Greenbrier West has made trips to the state volleyball tournament under head coach Cindy Nutter a yearly event in recent years.
Even with that in mind, the fact that the Cavaliers made the big dance last year was nothing short of amazing.
“Last year was crazy. We didn’t have the same lineup for two games in a row for a month and a half,” Nutter recalled. “We had injuries, severe illnesses and Covid issues. It was closer to the end of October before we got most everybody back on the floor.”
Senior libero Natalie Agee battled a scary bout with Covid before making it back just before the start of postseason play. Freshman sensation Preslee Treadway was lost near the middle of the season with an illness that required surgery.
Still, the Cavaliers persevered to win the Class A Region 3, Section 2 championship before bringing home the Region 3 title, sending them back to the state tournament.
Now Greenbrier West enters the 2022 campaign convinced they can keep its state tournament streak in tact.
While the Cavaliers have the players to get the job done, they do have some holes to fill.
Along with Agee, who was a second-team all-state selection, graduation took first team all-state hitter Kenzie O’Dell, special honorable mention all-state selection, Brooke Nutter and Loren Hanna.
The positive for Cavalier fans is the returning core of players are experienced and motivated to get back to the big dance.
Senior Meagan Poticher has been a force in the middle patrolling the net, while junior Riley Robertson returns as an experienced setter for the Cavaliers.
Poticher, a standout post player on the basketball team, explained what has made her such a strong blocker.
“Blocking is a lot more difficult than people understand. It’s so difficult to track the ball and the hitter at the same time,” Poticher explained. “You also have to check the hitter’s shoulders to see where the ball is going to go. That way you can angle yourself properly. It takes a lot of speed to move back and forth.”
Kadie O’Dell is also back as dominant hitter and with Treadway healthy, the duo gives West big-time power on the outside.
“To be honest, right now I have never seen Kadie any stronger. She is hitting really well and thank God Preslee is back healthy and hitting really well,” Nutter said. “Meagan has improved her hitting too and is still blocking great for us.”
Sophomore Megan Griffith returns in the highly important libero position and Desteney Walker gives the Cavaliers another strong and experienced setter.
“I always tell my setters that they are kind of like the quarterback. They have to run the offense. No matter what happens, they have to get the ball in the hands of the hitters,” Nutter said. “They have to be able to move and think at the same time. The more they can get the ball to the hitters, the more consistent the whole team will become.”
Griffith was thrust into action a little sooner than Nutter would have liked, but now with a year of experience under belt, she will be a big key to the success this season for the Cavaliers.
“It can be a bit challenging playing the back row, but you just have to depend on your front row for blocking,” Griffith said. “You have to read the hitters and your blockers to see what they are doing. We are the first thing that happens and the whole team is depending on us. It is definitely an under appreciated position, but it is an honor to get to do it.”
Equipped with powerful hitters, strong blockers and solid back row players, Nutter feels the biggest key that will push her team to success this year is chemistry.
“They are just an amazing group of girls. The fact that they all have grown up in the same community and known each other since they were toddlers really helps out. They all get along,” Nutter said. “We need to get better on our communication and shore up our passing, but this can be a really good team.”
Greenbrier West opens the season Sept. 1 in a tri-match with Doddridge County and Ravenswood.
