HIGH SCHOOL

Unioto volleyball reloading, not rebuilding

Derrick Webb
Reporter
  • After going 24-2, winning the SVC and losing seven seniors, Unioto is reloading, not rebuilding.
  • Senior Kassidey Winegardner and juniors Marissa Palmer and Abbey Winegardner are leading the team.
  • A talented underclassmen group includes sophomores Ashley Taylor and Madi Eberst.
  • In 2014, the Shermans have started the season 4-0 and 1-0 in Scioto Valley Conference play.

CHILLICOTHE — After going 24-2, winning its first outright conference title since 1988 and losing seven seniors, including 2014 SVC Player of the Year Alexis Overly, to graduation, a bit of a letdown was to be expected from Unioto.

But judging by the tremendous start the Shermans have had in 2015, they didn’t get the memo.

While it’s only four matches into a new season, it seems as if the Tanks have picked up right where they left off. Unioto is 4-0, with wins coming over Logan Elm, Waverly, Chillicothe and Zane Trace.

In those four contests, they’ve lost just two sets — going 12-2 — and have flashed signs of a new wave of purple and gold.

“I think our skill level, with these guys practicing every day last year with our seniors, is good,” Unioto’s Aaron Ridenour said, who is entering his 25th year as a head coach. “And our volleyball knowledge is good as well. We are young and young kids tend to have mental moments where they make mistakes but as long as they recover and work out of those quickly, they’ll be just fine.”

If the Tanks are to continue their early success, they will undoubtedly rely on the play of juniors Marissa Palmer and Abbey Winegardner as well as senior Kassidey Winegardner.

Palmer, the team’s libero, currently leads the team in aces (13) and has posted a 94.7 serving percentage to go along with 37 digs. Abbey Winegardner has molded herself into a star, leading the team in kills (39) alongside 61 digs — second on the team. Kassidey Winegardner has done a bit of everything with 30 kills, nine aces and 53 digs.

“Those three have put in their time and they have to be leaders and do the right thing,” Ridenour said. “They have to demonstrate what it means to be out there on the court and they’ve done a great job with that.”

The trio of upperclassmen are imperative to Unioto’s success but so is a quartet of underclassmen — Madi Eberst, Ashley Taylor, Amanda McGlone and Hannah Hall.

Taking over setter duties is Eberst and she’s already proven she’s worthy of the position. In four games, the sophomore has dished out 128 assists, or 9.1 per set. As a team, the Shermans have a total of 145.

“Madi is a nice, calm, under control setter,” Ridenour said. “She gets the ball where it needs to go. She can run any play we need to already and she grew up. She’s 5-foot-9, so she also gives us a nice block in the front row. The setter is your quarterback. Everything goes through Madi for us.”

Taylor, also a sophomore, has the potential to become one of the league’s best all-around athletes. She’s started off the season with 36 kills, eight aces, six blocks and 33 digs.

“Ashley has grown up strong and has a lot of height so she does a good job in the middle,” Ridenour said. “She runs a nice, quick play and has become solid all-around.”

McGlone and Hall, both freshmen, have jumped right into varsity play from middle school competition. However, they’ve handled the transition well.

Both stand at 5-foot-11, giving the Shermans the power to control the net each time out. The two have combined for 47 kills and 23 blocks so far.

“Coming straight from a middle school level is definitely a big step up,” Ridenour said. “The game is so much faster. But they put in their time and have made a very good transition. We’ve put those two together so we’ll have a nice, big block on the outside and they’re going to get a lot of touches. It’s been a good thing to have a solid front line up there.”

Numbers on paper is one thing. Continuing to have success is another. But if there is a team to do it, this one is it.

“These guys were there everyday in practice last year so they saw what it takes to win and how much work you have to put in,” Ridenour said. “They’re just trying to find their own way and set their own path. That’s where we’re trying to get them to go.”

The Tanks’ 2015 journey will continue Thursday at home against Huntington.

dwebb@chillicothegazette.com

Twitter: @dw1509