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Monday, September 1, 2008
Learning Experience
Western Arkansas, AR
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By: Rod Gardner
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Photo(s) By: Ben Sheppard
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Lake Hamilton spikers learn valuable lesson that makes them favorites again
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“Things started off really smoothly for us, and I believe we started to look ahead to what could be,” said Smith, whose Lady Wolves had set preseason goals of winning conference and state titles. “Then we hit that little three-game slump where we lost to some teams we had already beaten soundly. It forced us to stop, assess and evaluate what was going on, and then re-focus.
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Lake Hamilton volleyball coach Karen Smith has always been a believer in the teaching accuracy of history.
That belief, however, has grown even stronger, what with the roller-coaster-like fashion in which her 2007 Lady Wolves claimed the Class 6A state title. In claiming the crown — the first ever for both Smith and Lake Hamilton — the Lady Wolves cruised to nine consecutive wins before suffering through what proved to be a season-altering, three-game losing skid.
“From that point forward, we took things one opponent at a time. We worked in practice to face the next team, and only that next team. That is what I think changed everything. We not only started winning again, we did it by playing the kind of volleyball we were capable of playing. I believe it was the No. 1 key to our state-title run.”
Not surprisingly, with that bit of history fresh in her mind, Smith believes that same approach is key for her 2008 Lady Wolves, who return nine of the 10 players who played the bulk of minutes in last season's state tournament. Victories over Jonesboro, Marion and conference rival Benton, helped Lake Hamilton finish last season with a 26-10 record and the state championship trophy, and if the Lady Wolves hope to enjoy similar success this season, Smith believes they will have to get the job done one opponent at a time.
“We return all but one of the players, Tasha Davis, from last season's team, so on paper our prospects look good for the upcoming season," said Smith, in her sixth season at the Lake Hamilton helm. "You don't play on paper, though, and if history has taught this bunch anything, it is that we have to take one opponent at a time.
"I will say we fared extremely well in the team camps we attended this summer, but I still believe the biggest key for us this season is to focus on one opponent at a time. If we do that, and play the kind of volleyball we are capable of, winning and all that comes with it will take care of itself."
Davis will be missed. The outside hitter who averaged 12 kills per outing en route earned a roster spot in last June's annual Arkansas High School All-Star Volleyball Game in Fayetteville. Heading the list of nine returnees, though, are 6-foot senior standouts Suzanne Fincham and Jessica Weatherford. Fincham, on her way to all-state, all-state tournament and state tournament most valuable player honors, averaged 10 to 15 kills last season. Meanwhile, Weatherford, a 2006 all-stater who last season earned all-conference recognition and several all-state tournament nominations, averaged 8 to 12 kills.
Also back is Courtney Smith, a 5-3 senior who last season averaged 50 sets and 11 to 20 assists on her way to all-conference recognition and several all-state tournament nominations. Courtney is coach Smith's daughter and for the first time in her high school career will get to play alongside her younger sister, 5-2 sophomore defensive specialist Kori, a varsity newcomer just recently named to the squad.
The other three senior returnees from last season's state championship team are 5-7 outside hitter Jessie Woerpel, 5-3 setter Sadia Gish and 5-3 libero Angela Yzaguirre, a defensive specialist and back-row passer who earned all-conference honors. Juniors Katilyn Roberts (6-0 hitter), Amelia Fuller (5-11 hitter) and Kelley Coakley (5-7 rightside hitter), each of whom played significant roles during last season's title run, also return. Roberts, who will likely secure Davis' spot in the startling lineup, averaged 6 to 10 kills per game last season.
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A collection of this month's best action photos.
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