Lady Billies want success on court
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Jilene VanOpdorp will set up passes for many of her Williamsville South teammates this fall. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

When the Williamsville South girls volleyball team turned in their individual goals for the season, each wanted to achieve one common goal.

"Winning was a team goal of every single person, whether it was 'I want a .500 season or to go further in the playoffs,'" said South co-coach Gina Becker. "They all had their eyes on the prize."

If the Lady Billies are to advance past the Section VI Class A quarterfinals this season, they will have to do so without All-WNY libero Jocelyn VanOpdorp, who graduated in June and is playing at Bucknell University.

However, South does return Jocelyn's younger sister, Jilene, a sophomore entering her third year on the team. VanOpdorp is the team's starting setter.

VanOpdorp has all of the tools to be successful.

"She's quick to the ball and puts sets in the same place every time," Becker said. "Her hitters always know where she's going to put the ball. If they don't like it, she's good at adjusting her own sets to accommodate the hitters."

Also returning are senior middle hitters Grace Dadebo and Claire Licata and senior outside hitter Hannah Kwarta. Dadebo and Licata were starters last year.

Moving up from JV are juniors Devon Powers (outside hitter), Alison Couche (outside hitter), Ali Gramza (middle hitter), Kelsey Hooper (setter), Nikki Parlato (libero) and Sarah Cavallari (right side). Also new is Portuguese exchange student, senior Milfalda Pimpao (right side).

Becker thinks the team will be a hard-working group of kids.

"They are athletes," said Becker. "I think only two of them only play volleyball. They want to win so I think we'll do well."
South 2007 Schedule
9-5 at Clarence............. 4:30 p.m.
9-8 at St. Mary's tourn. .... 9 a.m.
9-10 Hamburg.................... 6 p.m.
9-14 Sweet Home ........ 5:30 p.m.
9-17 Iroquois...................... 6 p.m.
9-19 W.S. East ................... 6 p.m.
9-25 East ............................ 6 p.m.
9-27 at Lake Shore ........... 5 p.m.
10-1 at Hamburg ............... 6 p.m.
10-3 at Sweet Home......... 5 p.m.
10-5 at Iroquois................. 6 p.m.
10-9 at W.S. East............... 5 p.m.
10-15 at East ..................... 6 p.m.
10-17 Lake Shore.............. 6 p.m.
10-19 City Honors............. 6 p.m.
*JV times listed, varsity follows
unless otherwise noted.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com