It is often said that success breeds success.
Last season the Wyoming East volleyball team brought home the sectional title for the first time since 2002 and advanced to the region 3 tournament.
The Warriors are hungry for more.
“I am super excited about this group. They are young and enthusiastic,” head coach Tabitha Lusk said. “They are hungry to learn more about volleyball. Of course they are proud of the improvements they made during last season, but now they know we have a lot more to work on. This group is so open minded and willing to try new things. They are just a joy to coach.”
The work for this season started well before August and Lusk is excited to see a change in the player’s mindset in regards to volleyball.
“These girls have worked so hard in the offseason. This is the first year that we have had girls interested in doing that. Normally when volleyball ends, they move on to basketball or softball,” Lusk explained. “When volleyball ended last year, they found travel teams to play for. “Chaos” was started in Wyoming County. They got in the weight room and a couple of them joined local gyms.”
Up front the Warriors have an intimidating front line to create havoc at the net led by second team all-state selection Carli Ray.
During her freshman season, Raye recorded 320 kills, averaging nearly three per set. While the kills led the team, she was also a defensive stalwart with 237 blocks.
Joining Raye up front will be seniors Julia Williams and Maggie Trent. The senior duo will be complimented by junior Kaitlyn Trent and sophomore outside hitter Karlee Lusk who is the coach’s daughter.
“We have a lot of hitters this year. Carli and Kaitlyn both are powerhouses. Karlee worked super hard this summer in the weight room getting ready,” Lusk said. “Julia is another great hitter and Maggie is a phenomenal blocker. She doesn’t let anything past her. We tell them that even if they don’t get the block, they can be a distraction. Be in the way and give your back row that extra second that they might need to get there.”
Setting the table for the hitters to feast on will be sophomore Lauren Staten.
“It is a tough position, but I love the saying that the setter is pretty much the quarterback of the team. I take that very serious,” Staten said. “I try not to be bossy, but I want to be sure everybody is in the correct positions. I am a very organized person and a perfectionist.”
Standing almost a foot shorter than her front row bombers, Staten might be difficult to find on the floor, but the fruits of her labor are hard to miss.
“She is tiny, but mighty is what I tell her all of the time. She is just a sophomore, but she is so enthusiastic and doesn’t care if her name is ever mentioned,” Lusk said. “She is fine giving the assists and wants her hitters to get a good hit. She is extremely mature for her age and an all around good kid. She knows she is small, but she plays like a giant.”
While it says sophomore beside her name which indicates youth are her position, Staten has been a setter since she started playing volleyball.
“I have always been a setter. (Assistant head) coach (Chris) Stacy and his wife brought me in and taught me everything I need to know,” Staten said. “I give them all the credit for my success.”
Coach Stacy has been an integral part of building the Wyoming East program, first at the middle school and now as assistant for Lusk.
“Coach Stacy’s value to this program cannot be measured. It is immense. He came in with knew ideas and the girls already had great respect for him because he was the middle school coach,” Lusk said. “When the assistant coaching job opened up, he came up here with me. We work fantastic together. Having him is priceless. I can’t give enough credit to our middle school programs for what they are doing for us. These girls are coming in now and they are ready to play.”
Staten and Lusk will be the team captains this year. It is a position both are taking very seriously.
“It was shocking being a sophomore and being so young. I love being a leader. Being named captain is an honor and a privileged,” Staten said. “I love this team and i would do anything for them. I just want to see us make it far.”
“I have never been a captain before, but I like it,” Karlee Lusk said. “I think there is a responsibility to keep a positive attitude and have a good mindset to keep everybody happy on the floor. I think we have a lot of potential this year.”
The back row for the Warriors will also be characterized by youth, but Lusk has complete confidence in their abilities.
“The front row gets all of the action, but the back row does a lot of the work. They are the grunts of the team and we have some great freshmen coming in,” Lusk said. “I have a freshman, Kaelyn Meadows coming in from Mullens Middle who played for Club Attack. Sophomores Lacie Short and Haley Adkins are phenomenal back row players. They don’t let anything drop. If they can get a hand under it, they do.”
Along with a sectional championship last year, Wyoming East won the Class AA Coalfield Conference Tournament. Success will likely make the Warriors a target, meaning they will get each teams best shot night in and night out.
“There is a little bit more pressure. Last year there wasn’t that pressure because teams did not expect that from us. They will be expecting us this year,” Lusk said. “These girls do work well under pressure, however. With that pressure comes a level of excitement. The opportunity is there for us to make more school history. We made it last year and it would be nice to add a couple of more plaques to the trophy case. The ultimate goal is to make an appearance at the state tournament which has never been done.”