Big Reds eying a return to states
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PARKERSBURG -- As is usually the case going into the start of the season, Parkersburg High School head volleyball coach Erin Thorpe has just as many questions as answers.
After earning the No. 5 seed at the 2019 Class AAA state tournament, the Big Reds upset fourth-seeded Spring Valley in the quarterfinals with a 15-13 fifth-set win. A trip to the semifinals to face top-seeded Musselman almost resulted in a state championship match appearance, but the red and white fell in five tough sets before the Applemen were swept for the title by George Washington.
“I’m really pleased with how they are doing,” admitted Thorpe. “These girls work really hard and coming in and kind of picking up where we left off with states.
“The kids I have returning are all my gamer kids. When it comes time to do a drill or crunch time in a pressure situation they are ready to step up and exceed expectations.”
PHS will have tri-captains in 2020, which will feature seniors Anna Umpleby, an outside hitter, and libero Khylan Plants along with junior middle hitter Beyonce Pierce.
“As of right now she goes in for three rotations,” Thorpe said of Plants while quickly pointing out “our lineup is not set.”
Senior Maggie Sauers, a setter/defensive specialist, could help key the offense in a 6-2, but the Big Reds might utilize a 5-1 with sophomore Rylee Wise.
The Big Reds have five seniors and that also includes defensive specialist Emily Cancade as well as back row player Kenzie Pickens, who the coach noted “moved back from Florida and was on our team as a freshman. I’m glad to have her back.”
Joining Pierce in the junior class is outside hitter Kisten Roberts, who is expected to be a full rotation player, and right side hitter Amaya Elkins.
Middle hitter Lily Wharton is expected to start the year on varsity in the 10th-grade class with Wise. Fellow classmates Riley Hilling (OH/RH) and Mya Green (RH/MH) are also vying for varsity time.
“I’ve been really pleased with what I’m getting out of them,” added the coach. “There’s a lot of back and forth with who is starting and who is playing just because the level of play in the gym. There’s a lot of competition in the gym, which is good to see.”
Making a return to state won’t be easy, but that’s always the goal for the Big Reds.
Coach Thorpe, whose squad opens play at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when Doddridge County and Spring Valley invade Memorial Fieldhouse, admitted her team is “very young. My starting lineup has two sophomores, a freshman and two juniors in it. I have one senior on the floor when we begin a game.”
Caelyn Wise, a right side hitter/setter, is the freshman starter and leads an eight member strong ninth grade class.
“I think we are going to be a team to be reckoned with,” added the coach. “We came into the state tournament last year kind of as an underdog and I think people are going to view us as one again because we did lose quite a bit last year.
“We are going to be a force. Our offense is a lot better. We are hitting the ball really hard. Our defense is about where we were last year, which is very good. We obviously still have a lot to work on. I see us doing really well. I’m an optimist. In my mind we are going all the way.”
Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG BIG REDS
Head coach: Erin Thorpe
Roster
Seniors
2 Kenzie Pickens (DS), 5 Emily Cancade (DS), 11 Maggie Sauers (S/DS), 14 Khylan Plants (L)*, 15 Anna Umpleby (OH)*
Juniors
13 Beyonce Pierce (MH)*, 22 Kisten Roberts (OH), 23 Amaya Elkins (RH)
Sophomores
4 Lily Wharton (MH), 7 Mya Green (RH/MH), 8 Brenna Inboden (UTL), 10 Riley Hilling (OH/RH), 12 Kylee Lewis (RH/MH), 20 Rylee Wise (S)
Freshmen
1 Olivia Perkins (L), 3 Meghan Lauderman (DS), 6 Ava Strothers (MH), 9 Ashlynn Eagle (S), 17 Megan Morris (RH/DS), 18 Ava Pyles (OH), 24 Caelyn Wise (S/RH), 25 Elliza Towner (S)
*Denotes captain
Schedule
Sept. 2: Dodddridge County/Spring Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 5: tri at Hurricane, noon
Sept. 8: Williamstown/Cabell Midland, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 10: at George Washington with Greenbrier East, 6 p.m.
Sept. 12: at Morgantown quad, 11 a.m.
Sept. 14: at Parkersburg Catholic, 6 p.m.
Sept. 16: at Ripley, 6 p.m.
Sept. 19: Hedgesville/Woodrow Wilson/Hurricane, noon
Sept. 22: at Bridgeport, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26: at Grenbrier East, 9:30 a.m.
Sept. 29: at Ritchie County with Philip Barbour, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 3: at Spring Valley with Woodrow Wilson/Huntington, noon
Oct. 6: at Riverside, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 10: at Parkersburg South quad
Oct. 13: Parkersburg South/Ripley, 6 p.m.
Oct. 15: at Cabell Midland quad, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 17: at Hedgesville, 10 a.m.
Oct. 20: Bridgeport
Oct. 22: at Buckhannon-Upshur
Oct. 24: Musselman/George Washington/Greenbrier East
Oct. 27: Ritchie County/Parkersburg Catholic, 6 p.m. (senior night)
Oct. 31: MSAC (TBD)