A young junior varsity volleyball team showed growth in the 2023 season, with a team composed of mostly sophomores finishing with an overall record of 6-19.

The team was made up of three juniors, eight sophomores and two freshmen that moved up halfway through the season for the Panthers, learning to play together by season’s end.

“The first half of the season we had a couple lineups and tried to get the girls as much playing time as possible,” coach Chelsi Graham said. “Then the last few weeks of the season, we adjusted our lineup in hopes to put our best foot forward when the team stepped out on the court.”

She said that throughout the season the team focused on learning serve-receive rotations and defensive positions, while improving their blocking and hitting while focusing in practice.

“By the end of the season, our hitters were doing a better job hitting the ball over and in. Our serves were more consistent and we were comfortable in our serve-receive positions and didn’t need as much guidance as before.”

Defensively the Panthers had two specialists, with Peyton Borcher serving as the team’s libero and Neveah Garcia playing as a defensive specialist for the team.

“Peyton did an amazing job covering the court,” Graham said. “Neveah dug so many balls that others would let drop.”

In the middle the Panthers had height, with Lexi Reeves, Sharae Shoopman and Hali Hancock serving as the blockers for the team.

“They got really good at putting up a blocking wall and improved on aiming for corners when they hit the ball,” Graham said.

Unfortunately for the team, Hancock was out for the first half of the season with a foot injury before returning for the final month of play.

Setting in the back row for the team was Cami Gernhart, who Graham said was good at giving the hitters the best set possible no matter the pass.

Graham added that Melanie Garcia and Dani Johnson served as strong outside hitters and blockers for the team to help provide the outside block the team needed.

She said that Hayden Watts, Anai Torres and Nalani Jordan also rotated into the outside position while working on their hitting and defensive positioning.

Graham said two freshmen, Kaedenze Carter and Leah Graham, rotated into the team by season’s end, with Carter serving as a hitter on the right side and a setter while the pair rotated in the back row to set.

She said both rotated into positions the team needed throughout the season.

Graham said each season brings new players, attitudes and skill levels along with new things to overcome, with the team adjusting and learning throughout the season.

She added that the team had the best game of the season against Buffalo, and she hopes the team knows that is what they can be and will continue to grow into that team going forward.

“I’m really proud of the JV girls,” Graham said. “Playing JV is a lot different than playing as a freshman. I’m proud of how much the girls improved this season.”