IAC VOLLEYBALL: NEWARK VALLEY WILL SEE SOME CHANGES (10 PHOTOS) (2019-08-22)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
NEWARK VALLEY — Newark Valley brought back two former players — one as the head coach and the other to the lineup. The Cardinals have also added another dimension to their workouts in hopes of challenging in the IAC South Large School division.

To top that off, the enthusiasm is running high at NV.

"The first day of practice, and afterwards they were like this is the best first day of practice ever," new head coach Kelsey O'Donnell said. "We were so into it, everything. We never stopped. We just kept going. It was really productive. It's a good start to the year and I just hope it continues on."

Despite several graduation losses, NV has welcomed the return of Emma Graves, who played soccer last year. She should be a force at the net.

"We lost quite a bit last year, but I have seven seniors," O'Donnell said. "One of my best players, who switched to soccer last year, came back."

Complementing Graves at the net will be junior Allie Wandell, a divisional first-team middle / outside hitter. Also back are seniors Jordan Stiffarm and Kayla Malarkey. Stiffarm was a second-team libero and Malarkey earned an honorable mention as a right side.

The numbers are right where O'Donnell likes them.

"I started with nine. I have 10 now, which I prefer," O'Donnell said. "I like it small, because I like a close-knit group and I can rearrange however I see fit. You can run a 6-2, meaning there are two setters and six hitters, or a 5-1 where there are five hitters and one setter. I can change it up so much that it's kind of hard for me in the beginning figure out who's going to be in the best spot, what can I do. I'm looking forward to our first scrimmage ... to kind of play around with different things and see who fits where best."

NV's key graduation loss was first-team setter Maddy Hartenstine.

The added dimension comes with off-court workouts.

"We have a strength and conditioning coach with us this year who is here full-time," O'Donnell said. "He's available to all sports and so we're taking advantage of him and doing training with him, weight lifting, and all this different stuff to help us improve our game, so I'm excited about that."

Newark Valley starts the season Sept. 3 at Tioga.

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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR