Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Woodmore had a tough finish to last season, losing eight of the final nine matches, but the Wildcats will be led by first-year head coach Ryan Watson, who expects brighter days ahead.
“I'm expecting us to contend with everybody that we play,” Watson said. “We're looking to play solid defense and be able to transition well into an offensive structure so we can score points and win some matches. My outlook is for us to be well over .500 before the season ends and then compete really well once tournament time comes.”
The Wildcats will look to replace five seniors — defensive specialists Olivia Donley and Addison Overmyer, setter Kora Perkins, middle hitter Macie Grove and outside hitter/middle hitter Kara Schneider.
Schneider produced team-bests in kills (171), digs (247) and aces (45). Perkins added a team-high 356 assists and 161 digs.
This year’s team features five seniors — Ariana Florio (167 kills, 231 digs, 29 blocks), Emma Watson, Emily Lang, Maddie Jagielski, and Abbey Holub.
“Abbey should be a key leader on the team as she played a lot of junior varsity ball last year,” Watson said. “Ariana and Lacey Lipstraw are two more we have coming in that should help propel us to a more positive season.”
Sophomore Vida Hernandez and freshman Samantha Bush are competing at the setter spot.
“The team as a whole is gelling fantastic so far,” Watson said. “They’re communicating well. There's a lot of positive energy on the team, and I'm looking forward to a very successful, positive season by the end of it in what I would call a turnaround from a lackluster season last year.”
Watson said the team is focused on improving its defense, while Florio, Lipstraw, Payton Whitcum, and Lang are competing on the outside.
Florio is the only returner who is entering her third year as a letterwinner.
“A lot of them have spent time in the offseason working on their craft and on all of this so they can bring some more experience and depth to everything that we're looking for going forward,” Watson said.
Being a small school coming off a 6-17 record a season ago, Watson is proud of those who are battling to compete for Woodmore.
“We have a very small school, and when you have select individuals that want to play and put the time in to do that, it becomes a really special, more family-oriented unit,” Watson said.
