Fall sports: Talented Cardinal lineup meets experienced coaches

Jerald Harter and Suzanne Smith took over the Cardinal volleyball program last fall and finally provided some continuity.

Now with a full offseason in the books, the Comets are looking to reap those rewards.

?They bought into what me and coach Smith have been saying all year. They have learned the game and developed a little bit more of a volleyball IQ,? Harter said. ?They have used the offseason to play some club ball, play through the summer and play the way the game should be played.?

A talented and experienced group coming back to the team doesn?t hurt matters, and Cardinal is looking to take another stride this fall. Seven of last year?s top eight players return for Harter, and continued improvement remains the goal.

?We?re just hoping for everyone to step in and pick up right where we left off last year,? Harter said.

Leading the group of experienced front line players is the strong-swinging Andrea Kayser, who led the team with 2.2 kills per game last fall. Liz Nichols will be back on the outside and Sam Nickel will play in the middle where she also spent most of her time in 2010.

The trio of seniors is the main reason for the high amounts of optimism at Cardinal, and time with the game has already begun to pay dividends.

?The girls took it upon themselves to play some club ball over the winter and play plenty of scrimmages this summer,? Harter said. ?We?ve essentially been playing volleyball since the season ended last year, and it has all helped with knowledge of the game and volleyball IQ ? that?s where we?ve improved.?

Emilee Peters is another senior who will step into the front row and be counted on for offense with Courtney Smith and Sarah Greiner running the show from the setter position. Junior Lindsay Moore will again wear the libero jersey and hold down the defense.

Amongst all the experience is newcomer Jordan Smith. While only a freshman, she is far from new to the sport thanks to a busy offseason traveling around the country playing club ball and already possesses the height and talent to make an impact at the varsity level.

?I think all the tools are there, so now we just have to put everything together, and I think we?ll see some good things,? said Harter. ?We?ll try to be competitive in every match we play and aim for improvement each night. If that happens, we?ll get where we want to be.?

A tough conference schedule awaits, but if things do fall right for the Comets, they could be in the conversation for a league title come October. Before the regular season champion is decided, teams will play the conference tournament Sept. 22-24 and Cardinal can knock out one big goal right there.

?Cardinal has never made it to the second day of the conference tournament, so if we can do that, we?re headed in the right direction,? said Harter. ?We?ll do what we can and let the chips fall as they may.?

Cardinal will get the season started Saturday with tournament action in Danville.