Volleyball practice underway at NHS

Lacy Leonard serves during volleyball practice Thursday morning at the high school gym. Leonard is one of five seniors on the squad this season.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

As one of the fall sports, volleyball teams were able to start practices on Monday and the Nevada Lady Tigers followed suit by holding two-a-days this week at the high school gym.

There are five seniors on this year's squad along with six juniors.

With the bevy of upperclassmen, the Lady Tigers are expecting improvement this season.

"We have high expectations for this year," head coach Sharla Wilkerson said.

"The varsity is really working well together and really staying after it."

The five seniors have plenty of experience, since most of them started as juniors.

Wilkerson said that they know this is the final opportunity for them to have success in a Tiger uniform.

"They've come to the realization that this is the last year and this is it," she said.

The number of players participating is good for the volleyball team this year, making for increased competition for playing time.

"We've got so many girls out and only 18 starting spots," Wilkerson said looking at the 34 attending practice on Wednesday.

"That's (almost) 20 kids who won't see starting time."

Wilkerson said the competition is making it tough to decide between some of the players.

"Things can change on a day-to-day basis," she said.

"That's one thing we're trying to figure out is who goes where."

Wilkerson said that so far the team has focused on two things -- passing and conditioning.

"Our main focus really has been passing," Wilkerson said. "If you can't pass then you can't do much else,"

In the morning the team has been practicing from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

In the afternoon they go from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Overall, Wilkerson has been pleased with the effort and the way practices have gone.

"Not bad," she said. "If you ask the girls they might tell you different."

Wilkerson was referring to the third day of practices, when most athletes are battling the height of soreness.

The Lady Tigers will have two-a-days through Friday, then will go to the normal once-a-day format next week with school starting next Thursday.

The first volleyball match is scheduled for Aug. 31, when Nevada hosts Joplin College Heights.