Lady Wolves work to improve fundamentals

In two jamborees over successive weekends, the Lady Wolves demonstrated an acrobatic style at the net that makes them competitive with regional volleyball powers.

That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, said head coach Jessica Whitaker.

“Passing,” she said, when asked what about the Lady Wolves could stand improvement.

“For the most part, they’re passing in the correct direction, it’s just nailing down the accuracy and getting the actual spot we’d like it in instead of having the setter run all over the floor,” she said. “Once we get the passing game down, the setters should be able to accurately set the hitters.”

The two jamborees, one at home and the other in Ketchikan, allow the competition to size each other up before the first of two all-important seeding tournaments which take place this weekend in Metlakatla.

Of the numerous games played at each jamboree, two stand out, a set against Craig on Oct. 11, during which the Lady Wolves rallied from a substantial deficit to close within a few points, and a match at the Ketchikan jamboree where the Lady Wolves went point for point with Klawock, Whitaker said. Wrangell hitters ran into a 27-point cap on one game, losing by only a point, and then lost the second match 25-23.

“We were neck-and-neck with them which put us into third instead of going into that championship game,” she said. “We were happy with their play throughout that game, and it was just the way the ball fell on a few of those plays that determined the outcome of the game.”

The tournament came on the second day, after round robin play on the first day. The season-opening Wrangell Jamboree didn’t have a tournament feature, but the Lady Wolves hung tough throughout.

In the back row, senior Calleigh Miller has demonstrated remarkable serving consistency, Whitaker said.

“Calleigh maybe missed two serves the entire weekend,” she said.

Junior libaro Darian Meissner has demonstrated clutch versatility, particularly during the Ketchikan jamboree, Whitaker said.

“She did an amazing job as a libaro,” she said. “She was able to go in at multiple positions and be able to get us out of some difficult serves from the other team.”

Senior Erica Smith has had to step up to fill in for passes that are a little off-target, but has shown herself up to the task, Whitaker said.

“She’s got amazing hustle,” she added.

The Lady Wolves continue their season this weekend at the Metlakatla seeding tournament.