Summit Christian Lady Eagles Set to Embark on 2008 Volleyball Campaign

Under the direction of second-year head coach Melody Jackson, the Summit Lady Eagles have their sights set on soaring higher than ever this year. Last year, in Coach Jackson's first year at Summit and Summit's first year as a member of the OSSAA, the Lady Eagles made an impressive run, finishing the season as Regional runner-ups, falling just one match shy of reaching the class 4A state tournament. This year's version of the Summit volleyball team appears to be even better, with 7 letter-winners returning, including 5 starters, along with a couple of key transfers from Broken Arrow and Wright Christian.

The team is coming off of an impressive showing earlier this month at the University of Tulsa team camp, where they compiled a 4-2 record against much bigger schools. According to Coach Jackson, "The girls looked very good at the TU camp. We have a lot of girls here who have been playing together for quite a while and the new girls we have are beginning to gel really well with them. They all learned quite a bit from the TU camp and we have really been able to apply a lot of what we learned to our practices since then."

Leading the way for the Eagles is 4-year starter Neva Sanders. "Neva is the leader of this team. All the other girls know that she is our go-to girl and she has really stepped up her game and taken on that leadership role." The team MVP, last season as a junor, Sanders is a definite small-college prospect at this point. Another key player for the Lady Eagles will be 6'0" senior, Karen Brown. "Karen transferred to Summit last year from Wright Christian in Tulsa. She had to play j.v. last year due to OSSAA transfer rules, but we are very happy to have her for this season. With her height, she gives us a very strong presence in the middle."

Also contributing for the Lady Eagles will be seniors Alyssa Dawe, Samantha Jenkins, Joslynn Ossman, and Kaitlin Jones. Dawe, Jenkins, and Ossman are returning starters who have been playing together since middle school. Along with the talent-laden senior class, juniors Ashlyn Gilbert, Sarah Goldsmith, and Brianna Stanton should contribute as well. Broken Arrow sophomore transfer Ashley Smith leads the way for the underclassmen. Smith spent the last 2 years playing in the Broken Arrow system in the 8th and 9th grade and is considered the future of the program.

The Lady Eagles are primed and ready for a run at the state tournament this year. "Our goal is the state tournament and nothing less" said Jackson. Summit opens its season with 6:00 p.m. match against Lincoln Christian on August 12th and a 6:00 p.m. match against Kellyville on August 14th.