Rising Sun volleyball has eyes on ultimate prize

    The aspirations never change for the Rising Sun volleyball team.
    Once again, the Tigers' goal is getting to the state tournament. And as is usually the case, that goal is a realistic one.
    Rising Sun finished 18-1 last year, falling to Poolesville in the state semifinals.

    "It will be impossible to improve on last year's undefeated conference record but that does not mean that we cannot improve our play and the mental side of the game," Tigers' coach Rich Wilson said via email. "The loss to Poolesville in the state semis still stings, more from how poorly we played than from losing to a talented team. Couple this mindset with another year's experience for last year's freshmen and another trip to the state playoffs is not out of reach."
    Rising Sun must replace four key contributors from last year including its top hitter, Bailey Hook, and its starting setter, Anna Caldwell.
    "While perhaps not as deep as last year's team, the 2014 Tigers have s good or better talent in critical positions," Wilson said.
    The Tigers also have several team leaders in senior co-captains Erin Harkey and Anna Prodoehl and seniors Erika Dixon and Marie Hyman.
    Four talented sophomores are coming off impressive freshman seasons – Lacey Swartout, Breanne Haley, Maddy Eckerd, and setter Sarah Williams.
    "Sarah will take over running a team with a wealth of offensive options," Wilson said. "While only setting for a year, she showed her capabilities last season in critical situations."
    Middle hitter Emily Forrest, defensive specialists Laura Ritchie and Emily Ritchie, setter Clarissa Pino, and defensive specialist Brianna Brown are up from the JV team.
    Impressive freshman Mackenzie Blevins will make an immediate impact.
    "The real game changer will be the play of Mackenzie Blevins, who has already established herself near the top of the depth chart in most positions," Wilson said. "While inexperienced in terms of high school volleyball, she brings four years of club experience and a high volleyball IQ to an already experienced squad."
    Offensively, Swartout, Haley, Eckerd, Prodoehl, Dixon, Harkey, Forrest, and Blevins are battling it out in practice for starting positions. "Each of these young ladies brings talent, experience and a variety of capabilities which lead to exciting offensive possibilities," said Wilson.
    "Defensively, a relatively inexperienced group led by Marie Hyman will be tasked with slowing down the opposition's attack and delivering the ball to our setter in-system. However, the inexperience pertains only to playing on the varsity level as Emily Ritchie, Laura Ritchie, Brown, and Pino all have JV and considerable club playing experience."