YHS rebuilding
varsity team with lots of potential
YOSEMITE
VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
Front row - Brittany Gorman, Jessica Muzychenko, Amy
Johnson, Stephanie Barr, Coach Tammy Thacker, Caitlin Merrell, Lani Uhl. Back row - Micaela Young, Chelsea Adair,
Serene Hanft, Karra Burrough, Amy Spencer, Lacy Abbott, Melinda Young, Jenna
Burrough.
“This year will be a big rebuilding year”, says Tammy
Thacker, Yosemite High School’s new varsity volleyball coach. “We lost six
seniors, five of whom were starters, and we’ll only have one starter returning,
left side hitter Micaela Young”. Other returning varsity players are senior
Jenna Burrough who is the starting right side hitter and also this year’s
captain. Senior Stephanie Barr is the starting defensive specialist, and is
probably the team’s best passer. Two more seniors, Amy Johnson and Amy Spencer,
round out the upper classman and will help out on defense and the left side
hitting position.
Juniors are certain to make an immediate impact. Caitlin
Merrell will start as one of the team’s middle blockers bringing her six foot
height to the front row. Chelsea Adair and Brittany Gorman are both defensive
specialists who will be vying for the other defensive spot.
Juniors Lacy Abbott and Jessica Muzychenko will push Merrell
and sophomore Melinda Young for playing time in the middle. Lani Uhl rounds out
the juniors and is a very competitive right side hitter and defensive
specialist.
Three sophomores have made the varsity team. They are Karra
Burrough, Serene Hanft and Melinda Young. Burrough is the other left side
hitter who will play opposite Micaela Young. She has a very powerful swing and
did well for Coach Dave Hamm last year on junior varsity, leading the team in
kills. She has already shown great growth in her hitting and also in her all
around play. Serene Hanft has stepped into the “quarterback” position as this
year’s varsity setter. Hanft has had to grow rapidly in the setting position
and is learning more with each practice. “I think the team is growing very
confident of her setting and as time goes on she will be a very established and
confident setter. Melinda Young is the final sophomore and is taking on the
other starting middle blocker position. According to Coach Thacker, Young has
improved greatly during the first few weeks of practice. She has grown to be
more aggressive and goes after the ball all along the net.
Coach Thacker has been amazed at the growth the team has
already demonstrated since tryouts. “I am very excited to get started with the
2002 Volleyball season. I have a great staff with Dave Hamm returning to coach
junior varsity and Dawn Jackson coaching at the freshmen level. We expect to
have a successful league season with all three teams.” said Thacker.
