Wolverines Volleyball: Bump, set, spike for the win

By Heather Spaulding • September 25, 2024 1:30 am
Contributed photo: In no particular order, Coach William Blackmon and Courtney Smith with varsity and junior varsity players Sarah Cruz, Mia Germain, Caylee Morton, Jasper Markins, Lyla Frohm, Layla Ancich, Vera Schoultz, Akira Tokunaga, Mila Jackson, Carolyn Talbot, Ruby Tapia, Brie Roit, Ila Allen, Margaret Prescott, Malia Warin, Lexi Champlin, Brenda Garfias, Myrto Provota, Kristina Girvan, Isabelle Derksma, Journey Rice, Remy Joplin and Daisey Bautista
Contributed photo: In no particular order, Coach William Blackmon and Courtney Smith with varsity and junior varsity players Sarah Cruz, Mia Germain, Caylee Morton, Jasper Markins, Lyla Frohm, Layla Ancich, Vera Schoultz, Akira Tokunaga, Mila Jackson, Carolyn Talbot, Ruby Tapia, Brie Roit, Ila Allen, Margaret Prescott, Malia Warin, Lexi Champlin, Brenda Garfias, Myrto Provota, Kristina Girvan, Isabelle Derksma, Journey Rice, Remy Joplin and Daisey Bautista

The Wolverines’ Volleyball has ended up being a large group this season, as William Blackmon enters his second year as head coach for the team.

“The team is big! The interest is growing which is amazing to see. We have full rosters top to bottom. I am so proud to coach these girls. They continue to show up everyday wanting to continue to improve,” Blackmon said.

He started coaching volleyball in the summer of 2016. “I started playing volleyball my sophomore year of high school and I have loved the game since then,” Blackmon explained. Then, while attending EWU he coached at a local high school and played on the men’s team.

The goals for the season are primarily for the girls to enjoy playing the sport, Blackmon said, and also advancing skills that are useful on the court but also using lessons from the sport that they can apply to their own lives outside of the volleyball.

As far as specific skills they will be honing, Blackmon explained “We want to work on all aspects of the game. The goal is to become the best All-around player you can be. Working as one unit is always the goal and I think we have been figuring that out which is great.”

The team as a whole has so much potential, he continued,”It is hard to choose just one player when volleyball is a group effort. They all have been working so hard to improve their skills on and off the court.”

When asked what challenges he forsees for the season, Blackmon replied “Instead of challenges, we like to look at these difficult things as goals we can achieve and accomplish. Things do take time but in the end when you stay focused anything is possible.”

These girls have already shown great skill and passion with an impressive 3-0 win against Lopez. Several of the athletes have the ability to serve up impressive power house serves that make it impossible to return, as well as blocking and spiking skills.

“The goal is always to go out and to compete hard no matter the team,” Blackmon said. “Regardless of the outcome win or lose we will be happy with the result knowing that we did our best and left it all out on the court.”

The next game will be against La Conner Thursday, Sept. 26 at 4:30 p.m. in the Turnbull Gym, be sure to watch and cheer them on.