CORBIN VOLLEYBALL

 The Corbin Lady Redhounds volleyball team picked the right time to peak last year when they came on strong in the final two weeks of the season to win the 13^th Region Tournament. Allen Central beat them in the first-round of the state, but Corbin won 9 of their last 11 games and made the successful run through the district and region to finish the season with a 21-17 record.

Second-year Coach Liberty Roberts hopes her team can make the same type of run this season. “I think this team will be very competitive,” she said. “We have several varsity players returning and only graduated two seniors. A lot of these girls played Horizon Club Volleyball or have kept in condition during the off-season and their technique has gotten much better from where they were last year.”

“They are playing at a much quicker pace during practices and when we went to camp I noticed they have definitely cleaned up their technique a lot,” Roberts said. “If we continue to that, we will be very competitive this year.”

Corbin will open the season Thursday, August 9^th when they host the Bell County Lady ‘Cats in a 6 p.m. match.

Senior Vanessa Wiseman, last season’s 13^th Region Player of the Year, returns to lead the Lady Redhounds. “We have moved Vanessa around a little bit to fill some other needs on the team. I do expect Vanessa to be very competitive, but we do have some other strong players.”

“Our setter, Landry Jung, has really improved. She is a whole lot better to be equipped to make more plays than just typically setting the front row,” Roberts said. “She has picked up her speed and has really improved during the off-season.”

“Alison Worthy, a sophomore, is someone I expect a lot offensively from,” added Roberts. “Brianna Shrout, another junior, has moved to Libero. I am just thrilled in terms of speed what I have seen from her. She is quick to track down everything.

I think this combined team will make us competitive this year,” Roberts said. “And. Not just relying on one or two players.”

Hannah Norris is the other senior returning to the Lady Redhounds. “Hannah primarily played on the JV team last year as a hitter,” Roberts said. “She is going to be a hitter this season. I have noticed improvements in her as well. She has become more aggressive and has the potential to have a good season.”

Roberts is looking to the big junior class to make an impact on this team. “We have six juniors, all of which will see some varsity play or will start varsity. That’s a great issue to have.

That group has really impressed me over the last year with what they are willing to do to get better,” Roberts said.

Corbin will again play in the three-team district with North and South Laurel. Every game with the Jaguars and Cardinals will be an important game in the seeding process. The number one seed gets an automatic berth into the region. Last season South Laurel got the number one seed only to see the Lady Redhounds pull off the upset.

“I think the girls will definitely have to make the past the past. They were very excited last year to win the district and region, but we have tried to focus on that was the past and something we can really be proud of, but we have to work everyday in order to stay competitive,” Roberts said.

“We have worked a lot on conditioning this summer and we are going to try to keep them one of our goals,” she said. “The better shape that we are in, the better shape we will be in for North and South Laurel, especially now were we have to play a three-out-of-five match set.”

Kentucky High Schools will play the best three-out-of-five in district games as well as post-season play for the first time since the KHSAA put in volleyball.

“We are working on keeping our stamina and building our endurance,” Roberts said. “We want to be a whole lot quicker than we were last year and I think I think we have that potential and take it to a much higher level throughout the season.

It’s really important that they stay focused and keep themselves in good condition,” she added.

Another rule change that affects Roberts and the Lady Redhounds is the number of games a team can play. The KHSAA limited schools to 35 games this season. “Before, you could count tournaments as one game, now you have to count every game you play in a tournament,” Roberts said.

“I want to give the girls competitive play, but I hate to travel to far for these tournaments,” she said. “But, they are hungry to go and play teams other teams that are not in our region.”

Corbin will play in four tournaments including the KBA Invitational in Lexington, Marion County Invitational in Lebanon, Whitley County Invitational and the Rockcastle County Invitational.

“That is the only way we are going to get better, is to play in some of these tournaments,” Roberts said. “It helps them develop in their skill level and I see that as a coach.”

Corbin will be among the 13^th region favorites once again with the likes of South Laurel, North Laurel, Whitley County and Harlan County.

Roberts feels Jackson County might be the sleeper in the region. “They have worked really hard to get their program developed into what it is,” she said. “Regardless who we play, we can’t play any different. We have to work on the mental mindset and go out and play our game. It is not about the opponent.”

“I think the region overall is about the same. I know Whitley County has that freshman (Briana Maynes) that was Rookie of the Year. I imagine she will be able to help them, but I am focusing on what we can do,” Roberts said.

Roberts likes the team dynamics. “They have really worked on their communication skills. This team, maybe more than any other I have been around, is unified. I think one of our strengths will be our ability to communicate out on the floor to get through tougher plays when we play tougher teams,” she said.

Not only did Corbin lose two seniors, but they also lost a key player who moved to Lexington. “Our biggest obstacle will be getting those three new people, who have had very limited varsity play, accustomed to the pace of the game and being aggressive,” Roberts said. “They are still at times, playing on a JV level and they have the potential to be stronger and be more aggressive. They just need to get some confidence and experience.”