Cougars stay focused

By Corine Gatti

Published: August 27, 2008

FISHERSVILLE
After graduating seven seniors, it was no illusion that the Stuarts Draft girl’s volleyball team made a powerful impression in their season opener against Wilson Memorial High School on Tuesday night.
Flushed with energy and smiles, the 2007 Southern Valley District tournament titleholders needled and worked the Green Hornets defense to a fifth game, but lost 18-16.
The Cougars were still wide-eyed and smiling after leaving the locker room.
“We fought hard,” said Cougars senior Kamron Johnson, who had 13 service points and five aces.
She was not the only player who stepped up her game. Even the younger players were making their mark — teammate and sophomore Callie Updike had seven blocks in the contest; Junior Erin Brown had 13 service points with two aces.
“I think we improved a lot from our scrimmages. Right now, we are just working hard during practices and trying to get better,” Johnson said. “I think we showed that. Wilson is a tough team.”
Cougars coach Kami Meeteer said before the season that it might take a while for the team to come together.
“I’m expecting that it will take time for the girls coming from JV to get used to the seniors that we have now, but I’m confident that they will come together,” Meeteer said.
That was before the squad’s first scrimmage on Aug. 14, and almost two weeks later, the team had started to rekindle last season’s fire.
“We did well during our scrimmages and the girls are making the plays they need to make,” Meeteer said.
Green Hornets coach Kim Claytor was impressed with the Cougars’ performance.
“They did a heck of a job. They always play hard, and I knew that coming in,” Claytor said. “We have been rivals since I went to school here in the ’70s. So nothing has changed.”
Meeteer said she will keep things low-key for the moment.
“I’m not going to put pressure on these girls to repeat what we did last season. We are still a young team, we are a different team,” Meeteer said.
Meeteer might have a different team, but it has the ingredients to be a worthy opponent.
“They proved that they are tough and won’t give up,” Meeteer said. “I was happy about how hard they played. They did a good job.”