Friendswood: Volleyball Preview

Story by Jason Roberts Photos by Tedd Anastas

Making an eighth trip to the state volleyball tournament in San Marcos will be an uphill battle for the Friendswood Lady Mustangs this season—but one that head coach Jerry Linch thinks they are up for the challenge.
Friendswood lost 11 seniors from last season’s Class 4A state finalist that lost to Waco Midway in the championship game.
"It is going to be much of a rebuilding year, but I don’t think our seniors are thinking of it as a rebuilding year," Linch said. "Mainly because they want their chance to do well this year."
Entering his fifth season this is the first time Linch has lost so many seniors but understands that it comes with the territory.
"It doesn’t happen that often, but that is the nature of the beast," Linch said. "Our JV was very successful last year. We got a lot of kids stepping up filling new spots and I am excited. I think we will have another good run."
One returning player is middle blocker Charlotte Mata.
"She has been playing on varsity for three years, so I expect big things from Charlotte," Linch said. "She will be one of my leaders."
Helping out Mata in the middle will be junior Sarah Wooley, who played sparingly last season. Linch will also expect leadership roles from Megan Carpenter, Chelsea Powada, Sally Williams and Michelle Motsch.
Motsch will team up with sophomore Siobhan O’Neill at the setter positions for the Lady Mustangs.
"One of biggest players to step in this year is Jasmine Casey—sophomore whom I pulled up for playoffs last year," Linch said. "She plays all the way around and is one of my best defensive players and one of my best passers. She is a great leader for just being a sophomore; a very
excited individual and I expect good things from Jasmine."
Natalie Meengs will fill in the libero position defensively with freshmen Kaelan O’Neill as a defensive specialist and Shawna Spozio as an outside attacker.
Friendswood will carry 14 varsity players along with Aimme Peck, Taylor Dixon, Kaelan O’Neill and Courtney Kelledy.
"Probably some of the more important things for this team to learn is to be able to play together," Linch said. "We got a lot of work on training the individual skills and ball control; there is certainly a lot of work to do in that respect. But having to learn to win together and to lose together, those are the important things right now in preseason. We want to build up and peak at the right time, which would be in postseason."
A couple of preseason tournaments, the Katy ISD Tournament and the Pearland Tournament will certainly test the team’s mettle.
"It is definitely going to help us as a team to grow," Linch said. "And yes it is a very tough preseason, but that is when you want to make yourself better as a team. We have to try to get ready for district and hopefully achieve playoffs."
District 24-4A play opens Sept. 12 as Friendswood takes on Brazosport.
"Their first goal is to win another district championship and make a good run in the playoffs," Linch said.