WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IS STRENGHT FOR LA NETTERS

    With a wealth of experience returning this fall the Langford Area volleyball squad is looking towards this season with plenty of optimism.
    The Lady Lions, under Coach Susan Larson who is beginning her 32nd year as head coach, will open their season against Waverly-South Shore in Waverly on Tuesday.
    LA lost just one senior to graduation (Eliana Darling) and has 12 letterwinners (11 of them upperclassmen) and seven starters back from last year’s 9-20 squad.  Returning regulars include senior setters Paytyn Marlow and Clarissa Guy, senior Mariah Tosse in the front row, junior outside hitters Lizzie Gustafson and Autumn Wegleitner, junior middle hitter Emily Olson, and junior libero Alex Darling.
    Rounding out the list of letterwinners back are juniors Kaytlyn Shepherd, Brooke Dwight, Brynn Samson, and Regan Bruns, and sophomore Brooklyn West.    
    “The thing I’m most pleased with is the number of experienced players coming back,” said Larson.  “Some of the girls will be playing new positions but we have a lot of returning starters and girls with court time.  It makes running our offense a little easier because they’ve done it before.”
    The Lady Lions’ starting lineup for Tuesday’s opener is not yet set but Larson said Wegleitner and Gustafson will likely be the outside hitters, Olson and Tosse will be in the middle, Marlow and Guy at the setter positions, and Darling as libero.  Sophomore Brooklyn West will also see significant playing time.
    In the season opener the long-time LA coach is hoping to see teamwork and enthusiasm.
     “I want to see how we’re going to play as a team and just see how well we gel.  Another thing I want to see is a lot of court communication.  That’s not something we’re great at and we need to get better.”
    Larson believes her squad is capable of posting at least a .500 record this season but has to get better at putting teams away when they have them on the ropes.
    “To be over .500 I think we have to develop more of a killer instinct when the game is close,” said Larson.  “We need to have that drive to get over the hump.  It’s a matter of being prepared to play every team, putting our best foot forward, and playing strong every match.”
    Larson feels that the Lady Lions have the ingredients necessary for success.
    “The girls bring positive energy, have a good work ethic, and like the game.  I think that will be a great combination for our team.”