WILLIAMSBURG — Dirk Berta’s Williamsburg Lady Yellow Jackets volleyball team is coming off of a 17-14 campaign with hopes of being even better this season.
Berta’s squad has won the 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic championship four years in a row, and looks to continue its success.
“We have two seniors returning from last season, Kylee and Karina Nantz,” he said. “Both players got selected to the 50th District All Tournament team and the 13th Region All ‘A’ Tournament team last season. Kylee is a great all-around player, and we will be using her to both set in the back row and hit in the front row. Karina is one of the best defensive players in the region. We rely on her consistency in the back row as our libero. Both girls have a very high volleyball IQ and the rest of the team looks to them for leadership.
“We also have other returning starters in Braeleigh McCullah and Lacey Bray,” Berta added. “Both of them were also selected to the 13th Region All ‘A’ Tournament team and made a great impact for us last year and we expect for them to this year as well.
“Of course we expect Kylee, Karina, and Braeleigh to contribute as they are returning starters,” he continued. “We are looking for others to step up and contribute in several positions and rotations, including Braylee Evans, Kinley McNew, Gracie Bray, Addie Jarboe, Allie Peace, Magomery Douglas and Payton Taylor. All of these players will need to step up and contribute and we fully expect them to do that.”
Berta said his team has several strengths, including knowing his players knowing their jobs on the court, trust in their abilities, and trusting each other.
“I fully expect communication to be a strength as well,” he said. “We have been focusing a lot on serve receive and defense this preseason and want that to be a strength for us.
“Some unknowns that we have noticed include filling in the several positions that have either graduated or transferred,” Berta added. “While it can be seen as an unknown, it could also be characterized as a strength because it’s gives others an opportunity to grow and earn playing time. We have told the girls that everything is still in pencil and they need to be working to earn a spot in the rotation. We are attacking each day and opportunity with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
Another competitive schedule will have Berta’s squad prepared for postseason play along with the 13th Region All ‘A’ Tournament.
“As always the 50th District is the toughest district in the in the region, so you get six high level games within the district,” he said. “We’ve added games against all teams that qualified for the 13th Region Tournament from last season and we’ve added games from outside the region that have qualified for their respective region tournaments. So, yes, this is a schedule that will prepare us for postseason competition.
“I think will be very competitive within the 50th District again this season,” Berta added. “We have proven that we can compete and beat teams in our district. I am confident that if we can make it out of our district then we can compete for the region title. We have won the All “A” Region tournament four years in a row so that is also an expectation that we have this year.”
