Sussex Academy volleyball play day provides an early measuring stick

Delmarva Christian underclassmen get valuable reps

Sussex Academy volleyball hosted a round-robin play day Aug. 24, measuring their squad against seven other teams. Crosstown rivals Sussex Academy and Delmarva Christian squared off during the afternoon slate. Shown are (l-r) Veronika Musina, Lilly Sells, Anna Lara-Nieto, Keely Kondraki and Morgan Stevenson. AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Sussex Academy sophomore Zoe Layton tries to get a hit past the Polytech block.

Seahawks sophomore Veronika Musina forms a block with freshman Nadia Ahmed.

Sussex Academy freshman Jopie Smith is an experienced setter for the team.

Seahawks sophomore Maya Hastings should have plenty of chances for kills this fall.

Sussex Academy junior Ellie Merrick gets a touch on the ball over the Sussex Tech blocker.

Seahawks sophomore Grayce Glover flashes her explosive power in one hit.

Sussex Academy seniors Dymond Steele, left, and Savannah Montgomery watch freshman Nadia Ahmed elevate to knock the ball back over the net.

Seahawks junior Ellie Merrick delivers a serve during the scrimmage against Delmarva Christian.

Sussex Academy senior Savannah Montgomery prepares to serve up a special present for Delmarva Christian.

Seahawks senior Dymond Steele begins a jump serve.

Delmarva Christian senior Layni Dukes flashes her athleticism on a serve during the Sussex Academy scrimmage.

Royals senior Taylor Lowe watches Kamryn Zarebicki elevate for a hit.

Sussex Academy sophomore Anna Lara-Nieto serves the ball.

Seahawks seniors Dymond Steele, left, and Savannah Montgomery will provide the 2024 team with a gritty defense and solid serve receive.

Sussex Academy senior Savannah Montgomery, left, watches classmate Dymond Steele bump the ball as sophomore Maya Hastings looks on.

Seahawks eighth-grader Reagan Khlar digs one out.

Delmarva Christian senior Layni Dukes awaits Sussex Academy’s response to junior Riley Barto’s serve.

Seahawks junior Carolyn Reese keeps her focus during a serve.

Aaron R. Mushrush

August 29, 2024

Event Date:

Sat, 08/24/2024 - 05:30 pm

Sussex Academy sophomore Zoe Layton tries to get a hit past the Polytech block.

Seahawks sophomore Veronika Musina forms a block with freshman Nadia Ahmed.

Sussex Academy freshman Jopie Smith is an experienced setter for the team.

Seahawks sophomore Maya Hastings should have plenty of chances for kills this fall.

Sussex Academy junior Ellie Merrick gets a touch on the ball over the Sussex Tech blocker.

Seahawks sophomore Grayce Glover flashes her explosive power in one hit.

Sussex Academy seniors Dymond Steele, left, and Savannah Montgomery watch freshman Nadia Ahmed elevate to knock the ball back over the net.

Seahawks junior Ellie Merrick delivers a serve during the scrimmage against Delmarva Christian.

Sussex Academy senior Savannah Montgomery prepares to serve up a special present for Delmarva Christian.

Seahawks senior Dymond Steele begins a jump serve.

Delmarva Christian senior Layni Dukes flashes her athleticism on a serve during the Sussex Academy scrimmage.

Royals senior Taylor Lowe watches Kamryn Zarebicki elevate for a hit.

Sussex Academy sophomore Anna Lara-Nieto serves the ball.

Seahawks seniors Dymond Steele, left, and Savannah Montgomery will provide the 2024 team with a gritty defense and solid serve receive.

Sussex Academy senior Savannah Montgomery, left, watches classmate Dymond Steele bump the ball as sophomore Maya Hastings looks on.

Seahawks eighth-grader Reagan Khlar digs one out.

Delmarva Christian senior Layni Dukes awaits Sussex Academy’s response to junior Riley Barto’s serve.

Seahawks junior Carolyn Reese keeps her focus during a serve.

Sussex Academy welcomed girls’ volleyball squads from Delmarva Christian, Indian River, Middletown, Milford, Polytech, Sussex Central and Sussex Tech Aug. 24 for a round-robin play day.

“The play day provided us with great insight on areas we need to focus on,” said Seahawks coach Hailee Gooch. “We have a young squad, and the speed of the game at the varsity level is still something we are adapting to. The seniors we lost last season were very physical on offense, so we had a couple of players – Maya Hastings and Grayce Glover – who stepped up during the play day to fill those shoes. Defensively, we were scrappy, which we knew would be present with this group of girls.”

Gooch thinks the players got valuable experience against various styles and skill levels, as well as a wake-up call.

“By playing so many teams in one day, the girls can take away key lessons like stamina, keeping the momentum rising, and how to adjust quickly to different types of offenses, servers, etc.,” Gooch said. “I thought our energy and chemistry on the court started to pick up about halfway through the day. We want to emphasize starting strong and finishing stronger.”

While Delmarva Christian got a good feel for some of its opponents, the Royals were shorthanded.

“Unfortunately, we had four starters that couldn't make the day,” said Delmarva Christian coach John Luong. “It is what it is, but it gave a lot of the younger girls an opportunity to play, to show me why they're on the team and why they're willing to fight for a spot in the starting lineup.”

The first-year coach was pleased with the young players' efforts.

“We had our ups and downs, but I loved the energy. I loved being able to dig ourselves out of holes, and a lot of girls stepped up that normally wouldn't have if they had been on the bench,” Luong said.