Sports
Chatham Volleyball Looks to Repeat Conference Championship
Team looks forward to matches against Hackettstown and Caldwell.
After an upsetting loss to Hackettstown in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 2 quarterfinals last season, the Chatham High School girls volleyball team is looking to make it back to quarterfinals for the 2010 season—this time without the help of graduated stand out Casey Reid.
Reid, who will be playing volleyball for Marquette University in the fall, is one of three players who graduated from the team, but senior co-captain Sam Thiel is not worried.
"Last season we really depended on Casey. We have developed more in the off season and are more confident," Thiel said.
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She also said many of the players joined club volleyball teams to hone their skills.
Thiel is one of seven seniors returning to the program, and as co-captain Liz Maurer put it, "We all get along really well; it's a really great group of girls."
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Other seniors include Becky Foot, Sabhyta Sabharwall, Hannah Sundman, Emily Mulford and Anna Schmitter.
"We have a good mix of veterans and new comers this year, but the chemistry on the court should be fairly easily," noted Chatham High School Volleyball's first year coach Kristin Davis as players filed into the gym for a day of tryouts Wednesday.
The team, which will be cut to 12 players by the start of the season, has a reputation to uphold. Last season the Cougars went 22-5, garnering the title of Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference co-champions with Hackettstown and advancing to the state semi-finals.
This year the team hopes to repeat both those fetes and is looking forward to facing its in conference rivals, Hackettstown twice in regular season play. The first will be in Chatham on Monday, Sept. 27.
"I think this year we want to beat them [Hackettstown] and I think that we definitely can," said Maurer.
In addition to playing Hackettstown, Chatham also has Caldwell—winner of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 2 championship in 2009. The team believes its toughest competition will come in the state and county tournament.
"Our conference isn't that strong so I am excited to play in counties," added Thiel. "This year we are looking to have fun and play as hard as we can."
The Cougars will get its chance on Sept. 7 when it starts its season against New Providence High School in New Providence.
