Many new faces for
By ANDY SMITH
Gazette Sports Editor
sports@gazettepublishingco.com
"We > Me"
That is the message on the back of the Lady Red volleyball team t-shirts.
The Lady Red could not have picked a more fitting team slogan. The Northern Ohio League runner-ups in 2007 lost six letter winners. The key departures were All-NOL and District selections Mariah Strayer and Nicole Schoen. The team also lost Lynsay Alt, Janelle Raifsnider, Megan Bolen, and Sami Corbett.
The 2007 Lady Red were 18-7 and 12-2 in league play. Both league losses were to NOL champion Norwalk, whom they also lost to in heartbreaking fashion in the Sectional Finals.
The 2008 Lady Red will have to rely on their three seniors for leadership, Bridget Wolfe (back row), Katie Smith (right side hitter) and Kayleigh Buckner (setter).
"The three seniors will be our leaders this season. The key for the girls this season is getting to play together and get comfortable playing with one another. The team is young, but they have great enthusiasm," said Lady Red coach Karen Irons.
The NOL will once again be strong this season.
"Norwalk and Tiffin Columbian will be strong teams. We will be a good strong team as well," said Irons.
The 2008 Lady Red will feature four juniors: Haley Skiver (setter/backrow), Meredith Andrews (setter/outside hitter), Andrea Spears (middle hitter), and Megan Mays (middle hitter).
The team will also feature sophomores Katie Lepley (outside hitter) and Katie Stephens (middle hitter).
Irons has big expectations from her team.
"I want them to play together as a team and to grow as a group. That will be important for us this season. This is a young team, it will take them awhile to gel together.
The Lady Red spikers open the season Aug. 23 at Sandusky Perkins at 10 a.m.
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