Cee-Bee family pitches in to help spikers

Dominion Post - 7/3/2017

July 03--For the Clay-Battelle girls' volleyball team, the word "together" is making an impact on the way the three-week summer practices and the off season conditioning is moving along.

Head coach Josh Kisner also coaches two other sports, which can make for a busy schedule.

But he has the support of graduated players who are more than willing to come back and help the family they were a part of.

Graduate Candace Holmes got former teammates Hannah Carreon and Amanda Wolfe to return and help during the summer schedule.

"Once school was out and many girls came back they caught wind of what was going on," Kisner said.

"They said they would come back and help with whatever is going on. It is nice they are able to do that to scrimmage with them a little and share some of their experience."

The biggest aspect of this season is team chemistry, which is where the word "together" comes into play.

Kisner wants the mood of the team to be playing together, working together and overcoming obstacles together.

"Sometimes we spend more time with each other than our own families," Kisner said. "So when problems arise, we have to work through it as a team and stay together."

The Cee-Bees attended a team-building camp at Alderson Broaddus College, where Kisner said the younger girls mixed in with upperclassmen and the team showed improvement in communication and skill each day.

Unfortunately, due to lack of interest in teams, C-B was scheduled to compete in two tournaments but both were cancelled.

With the personal drive of players to join club and travel teams in the offseason, Kisner believes the experience they are receiving on their own will show in August and September.

Last season, the Cee-Bees posted a 22-15 record after switching regions and being led by two seniors, Tressa Varner and Abby Sine.

Though there were only two seniors, the team lost serving power and mental knowledge on the court.

Varner and Sine were with the high school program all four years and were also the first class to go all four years under the same coach, Kisner.

Kisner said they had a nice junior class underneath of them who know what they want and what he wants.

"Talking to the juniors and watching them play, I know they are ready to take over," Kisner said. "They have the mindset that, 'Hey, this is our last year so let's go out and make the best of it.' "

One senior in particular to step up is Maddie Pennington, a four-year letterman and three-year starter who stands 6-feet tall.

"She does an excellent job in the middle with blocking and has a nice serve," Kisner said.

"She is very athletic, goes for the ball and has a nice vertical as well."

Pennington, along with five other seniors, will be joined by 15-18 others who signed up for the team this season.

Having a good senior base and good team chemistry on and off the court leads Kisner to believe this will be another successful season.

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