SAHS continuing to build

For the South Adams High School volleyball team, the 2008 season was anything but easy. Still, second-year coach Ashley Buckingham is looking at the upcoming year with optimism.

"We might not have improved our record greatly last year, but we did earn a great deal of respect from our opponents," said Buckingham. "We are excited about the improvement we have made in the off-season and we look forward to winning a lot of the close matches we lost last season."

A year ago the Starfires, who lose six seniors including setter Jacie Yoder and middle hitter Whitney Ellinger, lost their first 12 matches. Their second win didn't come until October and they finished 4-23 overall and 1-6 in the Allen County Athletic Conference.

SAHS battled in many of its matches, including against Jay County when it won the opening game before falling in each of the next three.

As the team tries to turn around the results of some of those close matches, it will look to three returning hitters, including a pair in the middle.

Senior Karen Bollenbacher will be in her third season on the varsity squad. Last season she racked up 154 kills and 27 blocks, both tops among returning players.

Junior Taylor Farlow will return for her second year after picking up 83 kills and 20 blocks as a sophomore.

"We are looking for (Bollenbacher) to be a big contributor for South Adams this season," said Buckingham. "(Farlow) is a very strong defensive player."

The other returning attacker who the Starfires will turn toward for leadership this year is sophomore Chelsea Bollenbacher on the outside. In her freshman season she finished with 65 kills and 10 blocks.

"She has continued to work very hard in the off-season," said Buckingham. "We are expecting her to be a go-to person in the offense this season."

Amber Neuenschwander, a senior, recorded 183 digs last season, as a defensive specialist and back-up setter. This year she is going to run the offense as the lead setter for South Adams.

"We are excited to see her take control of the court offensively this season," Buckingham said.

And Kassy Potts is the other returning letter winner, having picked up 194 digs as the team's libero last season­­.

Newcomers to the varsity squad include juniors Jennifer Miller (defensive specialist) and Kalene Schwartz (right-side hitter), sophomores Kysha Cox (defensive specialist) and Ashlynn Jennings (right-side hitter) and freshman Kara DeLong (outside hitter).

"We are continuing to build a new attitude in the volleyball program at South Adams," said Buckingham of her hopes for the coming year. "We are excited about the future of this program and to restoring a winning tradition."[[In-content Ad]]