Young Raiders feel good heading into season

WILLIAMSBURG — The Raider volleyball team is very young this year, with one lone senior.

That athlete is Kalon Spratt, who was a part of the softball team’s State championship run.

Spratt will be the libero this season for the Raiders, which is an important position for any team.

“Our team is led by Kalon,” Williamsburg head volleyball coach Brittni Powell Powell said.

Spratt’s leadership will be important for a team with a lot of new faces.

“We have a very young, but very talented team this year. We have four returning letterwinners, but the rest of the team is very fresh,” Powell said.

Other key returners this season for the Raiders this season are Clarissa Suhr, Ava Hocker and Averi Nielsen.

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Suhr is the top returning player in terms of kills and blocks. She had 81 and 58 respectively last season.

Hocker had 44 and 49 last season, respectively, while Nielson led the team in assists with 318.

Coming off a 6-26 season, the Raiders don’t have an easier schedule this season, but have an excitement and confidence heading into the season, said Powell.

“We will play a lot of tough competition this year, but we came out of our team camp winning nine of our 12 games, which was a huge boost at the start of our season,” Powell said.

“I foresee a lot of good things coming from this young group of girls in the coming years.”

Powell is in her second season as the head coach and third as a member of the coaching staff.

The Raiders open up their season Aug. 27 in a tournament at Lisbon.