Jeff Moeller, sports correspondent
Richmond Hill head volleyball coach Danielle Ennis expected her team to have some jitters in their opener against Savannah Country Day Tuesday afternoon. But once the Wildcats settled down, they showed how they can defend their four consecutive regional titles with a 3-0 victory. Their JV team posted a 2-1 win.
“We were excited to open the season with a victory,” said Ennis. “ I was really proud of the grit and hustle our girls showed throughout the match. It was the first match, so there were definitely some nerves and adjustments early on. Once we settled down and found our rhythm, we went to work and played some really good volleyball.”
Ennis cited junior Brielle Allred and sophomore Kherington Babb for their offensive performances, while she credited senior Alexa Anderson and juniors Rae Sander and Makayla Jimenez for their defensive play. She also noted setters junior Daisy Willis and freshman Lily West for the play in putting their hitters in a position to be successful.
“We have a lot of depth and versatility this season,” said Ennis. “All the girls played a part in tonight’s win.”
Anderson saw plenty of positives in the season-opening victory.
“We played pretty well tonight,” said Anderson. “ We won in three sets, which was a good way to start off our season! I struggled a little bit trying to get back into the rhythm of hitting alongside being with a new setter, but I definitely started picking it up. Our team bond overall is definitely better than it was at the start of our summer and it will continue to grow throughout the season.
Sander was pleased with the victory, but she understands it is a long season ahead.
“As a team we will always celebrate a win,” said Sander. “A win is a win but with it being our first game of the season, there’s a lot of things we need to work on collectively: how we play together on the court and our game chemistry. I’m very proud of our win tonight and I’m excited to see how we grow over the season.”
She knows her game will play itself out during the season.
“I definitely didn’t play my best,” said Sander. “I had some good moments but moving forward into our next game this Thursday I need to tighten it up more, making sure I cover ground on defense and trying to get that kill, regardless as to what the set looks like.
“There’s things we need to work on, but I’m very proud of starting our season with two wins, one for both JV and varsity.”
Ennis anticipates her team will continue to strive to reach a new level. The Wildcats will travel to St. Vincent’s Thursday.
“We’ll take some time to reflect on both our strengths and weaknesses from this match and use them as opportunities to get better,” evaluated Ennis. “There is still a lot of volleyball ahead of us, and I’m excited to see how this team continues to connect, build confidence, and grow together throughout the season.”