Prep volleyball preview: New eras start at Wasilla, Houston

Aug. 21, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Two volleyball programs each started a new era at the Palmer Jamboree on Friday.

The Wasilla Warriors took the court under the tutelage of head coach Anna Simmons for the first time.

Houston not only has a new head coach, Greg Gaither, but the Hawks made their debut as a large-schools program.

Simmons joined the Wasilla volleyball program after three years as the head coach of the 3A Glennallen Panthers. After seeing her team in live competition for the first time during the two-day jamboree, Simmons said she is happy with what she has to work with.

&#8220Overall we did a great job,” Simmons, a former college volleyball player at the NAIA level, said Monday.

Simmons said her team played from ahead and behind, showed flexibility on the court and a positive attitude.

&#8220It was great to see how they handled different pressure situations,” Simmons said.

The way Wasilla handled those pressure situations may be attributed to the team's experience. The Warriors have eight seniors and four juniors on the 2007 squad, Simmons said.

&#8220We've got a pretty deep team,” Simmons said.

That depth translates into strength in several different areas.

The Warriors should have a strong group of hitters, led by senior outside hitter Ashlen Welch and junior middle hitter Jenna Johnson.

Simmons also said she has a pair of quality setters in senior Stephanie Bair and senior Kahle Ess.

While Simmons will have a veteran group in her first year at Wasilla, Gaither will have a more inexperienced squad at Houston.

&#8220Last years squad was really young, a lot of sophomores. So we're junior dominated (this year),” Gaither said.

The Hawks, collectively, are also a smaller team.

&#8220We're really small compared to other teams, but pretty athletic,” Gaither said.

Considering the physical makeup of most of his players, the first-year head coach said he has brought a new game plan to better utilize the team's assets.

&#8220It's really critical to play team ball, and stay within the framework of the offense and defense,” Gaither said. &#8220We can't do it like everyone else does.”

Gaither said he is already pleased with the progress of his team, noting the Hawks played very tough against several programs in the eight-team Palmer Jamboree last weekend, including two-time defending 3A state champion Cordova.

The Hawks also edged Valdez, another strong 3A program.

&#8220It was a really good jamboree,” Gaither said. &#8220We faced really legit teams, played hard and didn't give up.”

Among the leaders for the Hawks this season are middle hitter Sara Thiele, setter Kelsey Thamm and outside hitter Haley Schively.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.