PALISADES HIGH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
Faced with the difficult challenge of defending the City championship it won in November, the Palisades High girls varsity volleyball team begins the season with a new coach and seven new players. How quickly those new players develop could determine whether or not the Dolphins pin a 23rd championship banner to the wall of their gymnasium. ‘It’s harder to stay at the top than it is to get there,’ Pali’s senior setter Diana Grubb said. ‘We know every team we play is going to be up for us. There are really only a few of us who know what it feels like to win a City title so our success will depend on how well the younger players handle the pressure.’ The Dolphins’ new coach is Cheri Stuart, who also teaches biology and physiology classes at Pali and serves as the school’s athletic trainer. ‘I see a lot of promise but I don’t necessarily think a City championship is the goal this year,’ said Stuart, who was a scholarship player at Northern Illinois, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. ‘I have a lot more talent to work with than I thought I would coming in. I’m not going to say we can’t win City’maybe we will. But the proof is in the pudding.’ Grubb has had to play for a different coach each of her four years at Pali and admitted it has made for a difficult situation. ‘It’s not even weird anymore, it’s more like extreme frustration,’ she said. ‘But you have to keep an open mind and play within whatever system the coach wants. For example, we’re still running a 5-1 (a formation that uses only one setter) but our method of defense and offense will be different this year.’ A key factor in Pali’s pursuit of a repeat will be how well senior Natasha Vokhshoori adjusts to the middle blocker position after having played outside hitter last season. Stuart described her top offensive weapon as ‘a fiery player who isn’t satisfied with anything less than the kill.’ Alongside Vokhshoori in the middle will be freshman Alex Lunder, a tall and mobile player who adds another dimension to Pali’s attack. ‘Alex is not only a volleyball player, she’s an athlete,’ Stuart observed. ‘She is very coordinated and when she she’s connecting she’s an awesome hitter.’ Two fearless freshman, Jenna McCallister and Teal Johnson, will likely start as outside hitters. Juniors Megan Chanin and Corey Koffman and freshman Rachael Erlich will be the all-important defensive specialists and junior Kaylie McCallister, Jenna’s sister, will play opposite hitter and back up Grubb at setter. ‘Kaylie has good court awareness, she’s very versatile and she leads by example,’ Stuart said. Rounding out the varsity squad will be Margarita Juarez at outside hitter and Alina Kheyfets at middle blocker. ‘All of our freshmen are very disciplined in practice, they want to learn and they are pushing the seniors, which is good. I expect my players to give their best and I know if I hold them to high standards they won’t play scared.’ Because she is still learning her team, Stuart said she is curious to see who steps in to fill various roles as the season unfolds. ‘No matter what level you play at, every team needs a leader and a cheerleader, a motivator. Every team develops its own unique personality.’ Coaching the junior varsity team will be former Dolphin player and 2001 Palisadian-Post Cup award winner Ian Wolterstorff, who assisted coach Cari Klein at Marymount High last season. ‘It’s fun to be back at Pali,’ Wolterstorff said. ‘I actually like this more because I’m able to do a lot more teaching. A lot of these girls are just learning how to play.’
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