The East Peoria volleyball team is anxious to see how its offseason effort translates now that regular-season play is commencing.
“The girls are practicing really well and adapting to my way of volleyball,” first-year EPCHS head coach Julie Burk said.
She added the players’ more aggressive approach has worked well in intrasquad scrimmages.
Burk, who stresses the mental game, is the fifth different volleyball coach at the school in the last six years.
She said with each new mentor, the players have to go through a learning process. The Raiders have responded well, Burk said.
East Peoria was scheduled to face their first opponent — Illinois Valley Central — under Burk Tuesday in Chillicothe.
“I don’t think anyone on any level feels secure about the opener,” said Burk. “Hopefully when we play (yesterday) we’re prepared.”
Saturday, the spikers go to Champaign for the Centennial Invitational.
“We’re excited to play,” said Burk. “We’re definitely prepared for it on an individual level.”
As of the middle of last week, Burk was not sure of her starting line-up. She was waiting to find out the status of senior co-captain Tiffany McCarthy, who was dealing with a back injury.
McCarthy, who was hurt over the summer at a tournament at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, is slotted in as an outside hitter.
The other captain, senior Becca Britton, returns as setter after leading East Peoria with 156 assists.
Burk said Britton is hard-working, coachable and a good leader.
Kelsey Shoemake is a versatile senior, capable of playing on the right side, middle or at outside hitter.
Junior Shelby Lauterbach is a middle hitter who led the Raiders in 2009 with 104 kills.
Burk said Lauterbach, with her solid footwork, is becoming “one of the go-to girls on the team.”
Juniors Shelby Scharp and Cyndi Crandell are lining up key defensive roles.
Scharp topped the Raiders a year ago with 168 digs.
Everything in volleyball depends on the first pass, so the back-row players will be counted on to start many possessions.
Other players on the ’10 roster include: seniors Kelsey Jeter and Jessie Wheeler and juniors Allison Schartman, Megan Sheppard, Becca Belvery, Victoria Peak and Alex Smith.
Burk gave the athletes a seven-page exam in the preseason to gauge their comprehension of match situations.
Everyone knows how to play every position.
Burk is encouraging attackers to hit it from anywhere. Just because someone is 6-foot, she said, does not mean they can only smash from the middle.
