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Lady Vikes ready to ace 2011 season
Season opening game against Chino Valley brings a mixed bag of results, JV pulls out a win and varsity falls in close five game match

Clara Beard/WGCN <br>
Jordan Pettit spikes the ball during a recent game.

Clara Beard/WGCN <br> Jordan Pettit spikes the ball during a recent game.

WILLIAMS - After just one game, Williams High School Lady Vikings Volleyball Coach Jennifer Carter likes what she sees.

"The girls are playing their hearts out, on both the Junior Varsity and Varsity teams, I was so impressed," she said after their game against Chino Valley on Aug. 30.

The results were a mixed bag, with JV winning 25-10, 19-25, 15-3 and Varsity losing by a close call in five games, 18-25, 25-17, 19-25, 27-25, 13-15.

After seeing the team play together for the first time, Carter only has positive things to say about the upcoming season, although, initially, she was nervous headed into the game against Chino Valley.

"It was really nerve-wracking going into that first game with JV," she said. "I wanted them to be able to play. Regardless whether they win or lose, I wanted them to know their positions and their positions as a team. I was amazed, the girls were awesome."

This year, 28 athletes make up the Lady Vikes vollyball squad with 19 on the JV team, 11 of which are freshmen. Carter said it was the first time she's had so many girls on the team, making it a struggle to get everyone comfortable playing different positions. She also has a new varsity team with some younger players who are showing potential early on.

"Working with a new team, I do have young players, three sophomores and a freshman who are playing and are starting," she said. "And they really worked together."

Gigi Brown and Paige Parenteau are both varsity team captains this year, and Carter is already seeing standout leadership from them both. Brown delivered 14 kills during the five games against Chino Valley.

"They never got down on themselves, they never got down on the team, they kept everybody's attitudes up and they got everyone pumped to play," she said.

With a new AIA division system this year, the Lady Vikes will now face schools much larger in size.

Carter said because the volleyball team is tied to football, they rank at division 4 now, meaning they are the smallest team in their division.

"We are in a tough spot this year," she said. "But, I think if the girls play like they did last night, I think that we will be unstoppable."


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