By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
The Fishers volleyball team will have a tougher schedule this season. Which is intentional, of course.
The Tigers are up to the challenge. Which is obvious, of course. Fishers has the returning experience and leadership to handle its more difficult slate of opponents.
“The team will lean on the leadership of returning setter Rose Duffy and the power of Mallory Hernandez, both of whom won AAU Nationals for their age groups in June,” said Fishers coach Steven Peek.
Hernandez and Duffy bring back the intangibles of leadership, and also know how to get things done on the court as well. Hernandez, a senior outside hitter, led the team in kills and was second in hitting efficiency last year. Duffy, a junior setter, led the way in assists, was second in blocks and third in digs.
Also coming back is last season’s leader in hitting efficiency and blocks, senior middle blocker Elizabeth Weeks. The No. 2 blocker, junior middle blocker Haley Soper returns as well. Junior hitter Audrey Haworth was third in kills and hitting efficiency and fourth in aces, while senior Julia Drozd was last year’s top ace server, and fourth in digs.
“Fishers has many returning varsity players but will need to redefine some key roles to succeed in the HCC and Sectionals this fall,” said Peek. “Replacing libero Ellie Adams and attacker Maggie Markwood may present some challenges early, though many new faces seem poised to take on the workload.”
Those new faces include junior defensive specialist Emma Rosenberg, sophomore Bryn Roberts, who will swing between defensive specialist and outside hitter, and freshman opposite hitter Camryn Haworth.
Fishers opens its season Monday by hosting Lawrence Central.
“The Tigers have a tougher regular season schedule in 2017,” said Peek. “A few individual opponents and two tournaments have been subtracted in favor of adding Yorktown, Lawrence North, McCutcheon, Plainfield and Greenfield-Central.”
ROSTER
Seniors: Robin Brown, Julia Drozd, Mallory Hernandez, Ayslinn Roberts, Molly Waldrop, Elizabeth Weeks.
Juniors: Rose Duffy, Audrey Haworth, Emma Rosenberg, Haley Soper.
Sophomores: Brooke Benson, Bryn Roberts.
Freshman: Camryn Haworth.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 14: Lawrence Central, 7 p.m.
Aug. 16: McCutcheon, 7 p.m.
Aug. 19: at Kokomo, 9 a.m.
Aug. 22: at Bishop Chatard, 7 p.m.
Aug. 24: at Zionsville, 7 p.m.
Aug. 29: at Anderson, 6 p.m.
Aug. 31: Noblesville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 5: Lawrence North, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7: at Hamilton Southeastern, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12: at Yorktown, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14: Brownsburg, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18: Pendleton Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 19: at Pike, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21: at Avon, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 23: at Martinsville, 9 a.m.
Sept. 25: Plainfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26: at Mount Vernon, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28: at Hamilton Heights, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30: Greenfield-Central, 10 a.m.
Sept. 30: Guerin Catholic, 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 3: at Brebeuf Jesuit, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5: Westfield, 7 p.m.
Fishers volleyball coach Steven Peek talks with his players during a Thursday night scrimmage. The Tigers, who have many experienced varsity players on their roster this season, open on Monday by hosting Lawrence Central. (Kirk Green)