Volleyball: Trojan netters have something to prove
Staff writer
Collette Burton, in her fourth year as Hillsboro High School head volleyball coach, will have to face some tough challenges this year.
With nine varsity players graduating, Burton will have to rebuild a squad that will be able to compete on the varsity level. With 34 girls out for the team, Burton and assistant coaches Tina King and Kara Chisholm will have to try to make sure each girl has enough playing time.
"We had 40 girls come out when I first became head coach, Burton said. "So 34 has been average for us, and we've managed to do well with those numbers."
"We're a young team, and we lack varsity experience," Burton said. "But most of these girls have played together for three years, and we hope that will help the team."
The other challenge for the coaches and players is that league play will be rally this year.
"Playing rally will add to the entertainment of the game and make the games go faster," Burton said.
"It is something we are experimenting with as a league," Burton said. "But all the non-league games will be played the traditional way."
Burton said she was on the borderline as to whether or not to go to rally play in the league.
"For seniors, it will prepare them for collegiate play," she said.
But with rally play, Burton feels the game requires more physical strength and endurance as well as emotional strength and toughness.
In rally games, the teams will play three out of five games to 21 points. If the teams end up winning two games apiece, the fifth game is played to 15 points.
Also in rally play, the let serve, which is the serve hitting the net and going over, is now considered in play.
"This will be tough for us," Burton said. "I'm telling the girls to play every serve — to play until the whistle blows."
Burton said that the first triangular match will be tough against Conway Springs, the state champs, and Hesston, a noble competitor throughout the years.
And that became a reality for the Lady Trojans in their first match on Tuesday against Conway Springs and Hesston.
The team was defeated by Conway Springs in three games, 21-4, 21-12, 21-13. The team lost to Hesston 21-17, 21-17, 21-16.
Burton said her goals for the team are to continue to improve throughout the season, keep communication going out on the courts and improve their serving, which is crucial in rally play.
Burton is looking to senior April Funk to step up and lead in that communication on the court.
"I want the girls to have fun and to give it all they have when playing," Burton said.
Burton is asking the fans to come out and see the girls play and to see how rally scoring works.
"It really motivates the girls to have fans cheering for them," she said.
