There was a bit of uncertainty going into last season for Woodrow Wilson’s perennially contending volleyball team. The Flying Eagles were going to have to traverse the season with the loss of five seniors who not only started, but were among the best to ever play the sport at the Beckley school.
It took some work, but the new stars all meshed and took the Flying Eagles to their sixth consecutive state tournament appearance.
Now, the team is in somewhat of a similar situation in having to replace four talented seniors in all-staters Anya Hasan (hitter/blocker) and Londen Baker (libero/defensive specialist), DS Zoie Vance and setter Makayla Adkins.
“They were all in key spots,” coach Bre Rhodes said. “All four of them had a role on the team. To lose players like that, you take a big hit.”
Rhodes is carrying nine players on the varsity roster to start the season, but she had plenty of depth — much of it unexpected — from which to choose.
“We had a smaller team last year. We ended the season with only 13 or 14 on our roster,” Rhodes said. “So not knowing what to expect coming into the season, we were greatly, excitingly surprised when all the freshmen came in. We have about 14 or 15 freshmen.”
Leading the way this season will be Mollie Smith. The junior hitter was a Class AAAA first-team all-stater last season after collecting 343 kills, 56 blocks and 76 digs.
Smith was impactful her first two seasons, and Rhodes expects her to take the next step this fall.
“That’s a name that you’re going to hear a lot this year, hopefully, around the state,” she said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s in Gatorade Player of the Year potential. That’s the level of play she’s at.”
There are four seniors again in hitter/DS Bristol Bloomfield, a transfer from Class AAA state runner-up Shady Spring, all-state hitter Reagan Rist (234 kills, 28 blocks) and Kaelyn Meadows and Lauren Basham, both at libero and DS.
Junior Allison Hill, sophomores Kami Cogar and Addie Ellis and freshman Abbie Stuart round out the varsity lineup.
“They’ve all come with individual talents, and right now they’re looking pretty good,” Rhodes said. “We’re gelling together, they’re close knit, they’re scrappy, so we’re excited.”
The Flying Eagles will open their season on Saturday with the annual Shirley Brown Invitational at Woodrow. Doors will open at 8 a.m. with pool play starting at 9 a.m. Teams will then be seeded for a single-elimination tournament to determine the champion.
Joining the host Flying Eagles in one pool will be Oak Hill, Hurricane and Capital. In the second pool will be Shady Spring, Independence, George Washington and Mount Hope Christian. Admission is $7 and both cash and card will be accepted.
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