The road to the Class AA State Volleyball Tournament has never been an easy one coming out of Region 3.
Over the past four years the region has been dominated by Shady Spring and Herbert Hoover and once again this year, the Tigers and the Huskies are favored to return to Charleston for the big dance.
However, Liberty head volleyball coach Denise Arline thinks her young ladies have the talent to crash the party.
“I think we can go all the way. We just have to keep improving, but I like what I have seen in the early going,” Arline said. “They are definitely looking forward to the challenge. I have them sign in each day and write, “we are winners” on every page. To play well we have to keep it positive.”
There are plenty of reasons for positivity in 2023. The main reason is the Raiders did not lose a single player to graduation and return 10 players with starting experience.
“We have an experienced team this year that has really matured. The last couple of years we have been a fairly young team,” Arline said.
Leading the way for Liberty this year with be a foursome of seniors that hold down the back row, Trinity Keith, Josie Hartshorn, Dylann Trump and Zadie Worley.
“Trinity is tiny, but she is powerful. She receive balls that if they were to hit you in the head, they would knock you out. She is really good,” Arline said. “Josie has a very good volleyball IQ. She can see things on the floor that the others might not see. Zadie Worley has also been playing really well for us.”
The fourth senior is libero Dylann Trump who is a passionate player that is always running at high speed.
“Her serves are something special. She doesn’t mind hitting the floor and she hits it regularly,” Arline said. “Those four give us a strong back row and that’s where it all starts.”
A pair of sophomores, Mahaylah Daniels and Montana Breton do the setting for the Raiders and both are noted as powerful servers by their coach.
Junior Kaylee Mollohan and sophomore Emily Williams will occupy the middle for Liberty, forming a powerful hitting and blocking combination.
“Kaylee has come a long way for us and she hits the ball with authority,” Arline noted. “Emily was good last year, but she is a beast this year. I am not a person that is loud, but she makes me get out of my chair at times with excitement. She has the potential to be an all-state type player. Those two can really get off the floor”
Sophomores Nevah Yates and Shaylah Brown are described as powerful outside hitters by Arline. The veteran coach is also excited to see another young sophomore, Emma Hartshorn, Josie’s younger sister, on the varsity floor this year.
“Emma played mainly JV last year, but this year on varsity, I can put her at any position,” Arline said. “She works hard wherever we put her and does a really good job.”
The journey to the state tournament will not only include possibly match-ups with Shady and Hoover, Independence is much improved and Wyoming East also has its eyes set on a trip to Charleston.
“I love this group. This group is a bunch of go-getters that are very aggressive and very supportive of each other,” Arline said. I feel like this team is going to be really good and we are expecting a good season.”
