WISE - The UVA Wise Highland Cavaliers volleyball team will be debuting a grand total of nine new additions to the squad this 2021 season, and aim to aid the team's returners to a more normal fall campaign this year and build upon their unfinished business.
Head UVA Wise volleyball coach Kristin Salyer and her team have 27 games on the docket for the season, 14 of which will be home matches. The first match of the season is slated at home on Sept. 3 against King University.
"Playing King [University] as our season opener will bring a competitive edge to the matchup," Salyer said. "We have put a lot of emphasis on competing every play this preseason and that is really what I expect going into this match."
Notable early matches in the team's upcoming 2021 campaign will come from the North Greeneville Tournament in Tigerville, S.C., where the Cavaliers will see competition from NAIA as well as the Conference Carolinas and the CIAA. "We want to play as many matches early as possible to try to work out the kinks and connections that we need before conference starts."
The six key returners for the Cavaliers include Matelyn Gibson, Zoe Avery, Cassidy Farley, Rylee Waye, Adison Minor, and Kelsey Green. The two lone seniors, Gibson and Green, have stepped up into leadership positions to make sure the newcomers can get into the flow and pull their own weight on the court.
Important players on UVA Wise's offensive effort includes junior powerhouse Minor, who leads the team in kills from the short-lived 2020-21 season, Gibson, and Green — who racked up their own impressive amounts of kills last season and will serve as veteran big threats in the front row. "These players are the returning hitters that I feel other teams will know about and try to shut down," added Salyer. "We will definitely need some of our younger kids to step up and put balls down this year, but I also think these returners are ready to embrace the pressure that will come."
On the defensive end for UVA Wise, Waye leads the returners in digs while Farley is a key contributor in blocks for the squad. UVA Wise will hope to use the dynamic abilities of freshmen such as Dannah Persinger in the middle and Anna Whited on the outside in order to help shut down opponents.
Salyer's squad definitely does not lack competitiveness and the drive to win, qualities that stuck out to Salyer during preseason. Yet, the crucial improvements that the team hopes to accomplish throughout the season is smart ball movement and timing. "One thing I can highlight from practice to this point is that we seem to be able to move the ball around a lot more and consistently put the ball down in each position," Salyer said. "We will need that to carry over on game day for sure."
The rest of the palyers that round off the roster include Cana Davidson,Taylor Wilson, Kinna Magette, Kristen McKeehan, Morgan Blevins, Kaylee Scarce, and Hannah McAmis.
"With a roster of that many young kids, I see an opportunity for a strong future ahead as well as success this season," per Salyer.
With the SAC preseason poll announced on Tuesday, Aug. 24, The UVA Wise Cavaliers are ranked 13th.
