Badgers see strong 2001 volleyball team

GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL:

FRONT — Amy Spencer, Amanda Vawter, Stphanie Barr, Joy Bonham, McKenzie Cox.

MIDDLE — Amy Johnson, Kristen Lownsbury, Jessica Young, Jenna Burrough.

BACK — Coach Michele Chenowith, Micaela Young, Sharleena Hanft, Jennifer Kurtley, coach Tammy Thacker.

GIRLS JV VOLLEYBALL:

FRONT — Julie Ruddock, Brittany Gorman, Lani Uhl, Tiffany Jordan, Kristen Wiens, Chelsea Adair.

BACK — Coach Dave Hamm, Karra Burrough, Lacy Abbott, Jessica Muzychenko, Caitlin Merrell, Melinda Young, Serene Hanft.

GIRLS FROSH VOLLEYBALL:

FRONT — Alex Michel, Lauren Cook, Katy Peek, Shelby Wagner, Shaina Talbot, Brittany Cox.

BACK — Coach Walker Vaughan, Taylor Hutchison, Janelle Hendrickson, Megan Cable, Annette Rivas, Sabrina Hibbens, Alyssa Sayre.

The Badger girls volleyball team will field their strongest team since the 1997 and 2000 teams who finished in fifth place in the state.

The Badgers will return 10 players off last year's championship team. Last year’s team finished league play with a 7-1 and an overall 19-8 record.

“This should be a good season for volleyball,” says head coach Michele Chenowith. “Most of our starters are into their fourth year of varsity competition. But, of course, we must come together as a team. My expectations are high.”

Most of the returning seniors have played four years. They are Jenny Kurtley, McKenzie Cox, Sharleena Hanft, Joy Bonham, Kristen Lownsbury, Amanda Vawter, and Jessie Young. The team also includes juniors Amy Johnson and Amy Spencer.

Other juniors returning are Jenna Burrough, Micaela Young and Stephanie Barr.

This year’s team is loaded with experience. Its first stiff competition was in the Clovis Invitational where the girls competed against several Division 1 teams. The tournament was played at Clovis on September 7 and 8.

The Badgers have a home game against power-house Clovis West. The game is here on September 25. This will be a real test for the Lady Badgers.

The league season begins against Sierra on Tuesday, October 2, at Sierra.

The varsity has a special treat this practice season by traveling to Hawaii for three days, October 29 through November 1.

The Badgers will play Punahow, Iolani and Kame-hameha. These are three of the strongest teams in the Islands.

The Badgers should be the league’s favorite to compete for the Valley’s Championship.

But always lingering in the shadows is Sierra High School, the Badger’s fierce rival.