Depth should aid East's chances
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The Williamsville East varsity girls volleyball team's greatest strength should come from something it has hasn't had in a while.

"One of my biggest hopes is that the depth of the team pushes players to their highest level of play that they've ever been at," said East head coach Scott Wright. "Sometimes you don't have the depth on the bench that really scares a starter into playing better. This year, our depth is going to be strong so there're always going to be someone on the bench who can play at their level or even a better level given the day."

Wright returns eight players from last year's 14-4 team, including seniors Michelle Brent (outside hitter or setter), Kaitlin Roseti (middle hitter), Meghan Scheidemann (right side hitter), Jessica Hernandez (outside hitter), Courtney Rung (outside or right side hitter), and Kathryn Drzewiecki (defensive specialist).

Brent, who played club volleyball for Niagara Frontier, has played varsity since her freshman year. She is a returning ECIC Division II First Team all-star selection.

"She's a player who is really into it more or less," said Wright. "She loves the sport and it shows I guess in her practice."

Roseti, the tallest player on the team, has played varsity since her sophomore year. She is also a returning First Team selection.

Scheidemann is a returning Second Team selection.

Juniors Karen Kingsley (middle hitter) and Kelly Rusin (setter) also return.

New to the squad are sophomore middle hitter Brittany Rung, who moves up from JV, and junior Mary McDaniel, a quality setter from Jacksonville, Fla.

"She fits in really well with the talent level I have," Wright said.

No starters have been named as of this writing because Wright said he is still trying to figure out what six are going to work the best together.

Wright said the team really seems to get along and likes playing together which is a big plus. The team is good at every position with depth, he added.

He considers Sweet Home the favorite in the division.

"I've talked a lot this year about 'whatever our record is just make sure you make your team's season the best it can possibly be'," said Wright.

East's season ended in four games to Hamburg in the Class A prequarterfinals.

East opened the season with a three-game non-league loss, 25-17, 25-14, 25-20, to Clarence on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Saturday, they won the silver medal at the St. Mary's of Lancaster Tournament, defeating North Tonawanda, 18-25, 25-17, 25-19. East finished 6-7 in games played at the event.
        East 2006 Schedule
9-13 at W.S. East............... 5 p.m.
9-15 at Lake Shore ........... 5 p.m.
9-16 at Frontier Tourn. ......... TBA
9-18 Amherst ..................... 6 p.m.
9-20 at Grand Island ........... TBA
9-21 at South ..................... 6 p.m.
9-25 Hamburg.................... 6 p.m.
9-27 Sweet Home ............. 6 p.m.
9-29 at Iroquois............ 4:30 p.m.
10-3 W.S. East ................... 6 p.m.
10-5 Lake Shore................ 6 p.m.
10-13 South........................ 6 p.m.
10-17 at Hamburg ............. 6 p.m.
10-19 at Sweet Home....... 5 p.m.
10-23 at North ................... 5 p.m.
  *All times are approximate after
    junior varsity games.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com