ST. MARYS — While the rest of the Pennsylvania Big 30 volleyball teams have begun their offseason, the Otto-Eldred girls’ volleyball team will continues its 2017 campaign tonight in PIAA State Tournament first round play.
Looking to continue their hot streak, the Terrors (the No. 2 seed from District 9) take on Frazier (the No. 3 seed in Section 7) at St. Marys High at 5 p.m.
With Frazier High School being almost four hours away, O-E coach Jame Thomas said he doesn’t know much about his opponent.
“I don’t have anything on them,” Thomas said.
“It’s definitely nerve-wracking going into a game and not knowing what to expect. We are the higher seed, but you can’t even take that into consideration at states.”
On Saturday, Otto-Eldred beat District 9’s top-seeded A-C Valley in four sets to advance to tonight’s game and take home the team’s first district title.
“(We’ve) done pretty well in every aspect of the game,” Thomas said. “If they go and play the way they have all season, I think they’ll be fine.”
Improving on a 19-3 record in 2016, the Terrors head into tonight’s game with a record of 23-0.
“This is the best team I’ve had in my five years coaching,” Thomas said.
“We’ve had other teams throughout the program who went undefeated in the North Tier League, but none have been able to put together completely undefeated seasons.”
Thomas credits his team’s success so far on their consistency and versatility.
“We’re a really well-rounded team. From serving, to passing, to hitting and so on, we’ve really been able to do it all,” he said.
The team looks to capitalize on the dominant play of seniors Camryn Thomas, Ali Cousins and lone junior starter Harlee VanScoter.
“Harlee is probably our most well-rounded player in terms of her ability to be good in each aspect of the game. She’s been able to serve, pass and hit well all season. We changed up the way she hit and have been able to play around her,” Thomas said.
Elsewhere, Thomas, a captain, looks to improve on her 22 kills, five blocks and 20 digs from Saturday’ match, and Cousins looks to better her 13 kills and 22 digs.
While the Terrors came out on top Saturday, Thomas said one of his team’s weaknesses was their serve receiving.
To combat this, Thomas said he spent Monday afternoon working with the team on passing serves.
“We had a lot to cover in just a few hours, but I think if the girls can just go out there and play the way they have all season, we will be just fine,” he said.
With Otto-Eldred graduating five of their six starters this spring, including two North Tier League all-stars and the 2016 North Tier League MVP Thomas, it looks like now is the Terrors’ best chance to make a run in the state tournament.
“We are going to have to work on some things with the younger girls for next season,” said Thomas.
With next season still a year away, Thomas and his squad will focus their efforts on tonight’s first round matchup against Frazier.
