JUDA — The Panthers are coming off a tough couple of campaigns on the volleyball court, with a handful of letterwinners back this fall and a new coach with no coaching experience taking over the main sideline duties.
Despite the challenges, Juda has begun to see some real growth. Just three days after getting swept at the Monticello Tournament, the Panthers themselves won via sweep, toppling Six Rivers East rival Argyle on Aug. 30 in the hope opener, 25-23, 28-26, 25-16.
“A couple days ago in Monticello we weren’t playing as a team. We were switching up our rotation at least three different times,” said Juda coach Callie Norton, who is splitting some of the team’s duties with former coach Pam Green this fall. “Yesterday we practice a new defense and a new starting lineup, and we played better as a team tonight. They brought it together. They did better than I imagined they would.”
Leading the way for Juda was senior setter Jackie Nusbaum, who had nine kills, two blocks and 13 assists — all team highs. Juniors Briliey Swedlund and Lavinia Rufer also had some big hits at the net, each finishing with seven kills.
“Bri originally started her with setting, and at Monticello on Saturday we moved her to middle (blocker), where she’s never played before. She played her spot like she’s been playing it all year long,” Norton said.
Ciarrah Davis added eight digs. In fact, every player that stepped on the court for Juda found themselves making a big play during a crucial moment.
“Hannah Cupp’s come up to play front row on the right side — she’s never played on varsity before, but played her role tonight. We have a sophomore, Miah (Elmer) that we just brought up the other day, and she’s played her role well. These girls, for never really playing together or in these spots, played great and as a team,” Norton said. “I walked into this team — and it’s my first time coaching anything — and we all are kind of newbies learning this game — how to coach and how to play different spots. It’s only been a couple of weeks but we’re figuring out where we are supposed to be.”
In each of the first two sets, both teams were knotted up throughout the period. While Juda prevailed from a 23-23 tie in Set 1, Argyle rallied from four points down late in the second set and led 26-25 in the second set, only for the Panthers to rally themselves to steal the win. In the third set, the young Orioles simply ran out of gas, and the mistakes piled on.
“We are a new team — we only have three seniors, and only two that played tonight,” said first-year Argyle coach Devra Leverington, referencing Kyleah Mick and Hannah Gierhart. “These girls have never all played together, so we’re trying to put a whole team together. We have our moments, and I think we’ll get there.”
Leverington said communication is key going forward.
“It’s important, and there are a couple of girls who lead the team with their communication,” Leverington said. “And we have a freshman that is up front with us and is working on taking the initiative. She’s a little shy and a little timid, but she’s getting there, too.”
While getting reps in practice in the gym is helpful, sometimes there is no better learning experience than being on the court facing another team. From the home tournament on Aug. 27, to the game against Juda, the coaches have gotten a chance to watch their players grow before their eyes.
“In the tournament we had a lot of dropped balls right in front of us, and we didn’t have that tonight,” Leverington said, before adding that there is more for her team to learn than just bump-set-spike. “Tonight we had to do the starting lineup announcement; we had to do the national anthem. It’s just a lot of new things for a young team.”
