Coach Tiffany Lowrance watches Casey Brown reach for a ball during a defense drill Thursday August 4, 2016 during West Henderson volleyball team’s practice.
The West Henderson girls volleyball team runs a drill during a preseason practice Thursday August 4, 2016.
HENDERSONVILLE— West Henderson went undefeated in the regular season last year.
In fact, the perennial powerhouse has only lost one regular season game in the past two years.
But the Falcons aren’t content with dwelling on their past success. Instead, as they prepare for the upcoming season, it’s their losses that are in the back of their minds — particularly last season’s close loss in the semifinals of the 3A state tournament.
“That’s going to be our ‘why’ that’s going to push us every practice and every game and every point,” Mary Catherine Ball, a senior who has committed to Belmont University, said. “We want to get to that place again and finish strong and we want to get that championship. That’s definitely what we’re pushing for this year.”
And, thanks to a busy offseason and group of returning talent, the championship title that has eluded the Falcons since 2008 might just be in reach.
The squad lost key players last year in Gracie Carrick, Taylor Houck and Isabella Perron — all of whom will play college volleyball this fall. Coach Tiffany Lowrance said the departure of those seniors has left the team without the height they used to have, especially at the blocker position.
Yet, Lowrance said she doesn’t anticipate that being a roadblock for the Falcons.
Coach Tiffany Lowrance speaks to her team in between drills Thursday August 4, 2016.
“We’re not as tall, but behind the block and around the block, we’re very strong defensively so if we continue with that, I don’t think that’ll be a big issue for us,” Lowrance said. “We still have the strong hitters and strong blockers and all of that, but the defense around it will be a huge factor and I think we’re very strong in both the front row and the back row this year.”
Three West Henderson players have already committed to play college volleyball: seniors Ball, Sierra Jones (Presbyterian) and Destynee Galloway (Francis Marion).
Many Falcons play club volleyball from January-June, an intense circuit of practice and tournaments. And a handful of West Henderson players even play on the same team: Xcel volleyball, a decorated club based in Hendersonville.
Lowrance said that this not only adds to the skill level of her players, but also cements the intangibles.
Jones, a setter for the squad who Lowrance calls the “quarterback” of the team, echoed her coach.
“We’ve been working on bonding together and leadership,” Jones said.
Mary Catherin Ball spikes the ball mid-air during West Henderson’s team practice Thursday August 5, 2016.
But all the West Henderson players — even girls who don’t play year-round volleyball — are passionate about the sport, Lowrance said.
“This team and their parents are so in love with this sport of volleyball, I’ve never had to force or ask, they’ve always been willing to play volleyball year round,” Lowrance said. “Of course, there’s some that don’t play year long but they still have that passion for volleyball and whenever we start practice they come in here and give 100 percent and are ready to go.”
Ball said a recent team camp showcased the Falcons’ dedication to the sport. The camp was hosted in Hendersonville by Sports Performance Volleyball, an elite volleyball training group and club based in Chicago, and Ball said it pushed their team to new places.
“It was so competitive and the coaches pushed us just incredibly hard, I can’t stress that enough,” Ball said. “But I’m glad we did it because even though it was really difficult training, I felt like it prepared us more as a team. I feel stronger as a whole.”
Lowrance knows that all the offseason training, long hours in the gym and team bonding bring the team that much closer to their goal: the state title.
“They want it this year. They need it. Our seniors need it. It gives me chills,” Lowrance said.
West Henderson will play in the fifth annual Mountain Bash volleyball scrimmage jamboree on Saturday at Xcel Sportsplex in Hendersonville.
The West Henderson girls volleyball team runs a drill during a preseason practice Thursday August 4, 2016.