Entering its second year in the Group AA Jefferson District, the Goochland volleyball team faces some high hurdles as the season approaches. Coach Bert Stanley enters the campaign with only four returning varsity players and a wealth of youngsters looking for experience.

  “This year we have a very young team,” Stanley said. “We have six sophomores, four juniors and four seniors. With only four returning varsity players, we are obviously not very experienced and will have to get our players acclimated to playing volleyball at the varsity level.”

  A solid junior varsity program means some of the young players have court experience, but the challenge will be getting the sophomore-laden team to play as a unit.

  “Margie Yurick has a done a great job with the JV program,” Stanley said. “The number one focus of a JV coach should be to get kids ready to play at the varsity level and Yurick is doing that.”

  Stanley feels the athletic potential of his young team will depend of their ability to play together as a cohesive team. “The biggest challenge facing this year’s team is gelling,” he said. “We need to work on coming together as a team. We have a lot of talent but until we play together and work together as a unit, our talent will not amount to much.”

  The coach’s job is further complicated by the schedule, which brings a tough, consistent lineup in the district and presents one challenge after another. “The Jefferson District is one of the toughest districts in the state,” he said. “Last year, three girls from the Jefferson received All-State recognition. When you have that type of talent in a district, it shows how competitive it is.”

  Returning to the Group A next year, Stanley said the Bulldogs are ready for the change. “As far as returning to the James River (District) next season, I feel that we will be a vastly improved team next year with 10 returning varsity players, so I hope we play well no matter what district we are competing.”

  But the first task at hand is this season, and Stanley will depend of his limited senior leadership to anchor a team comprised of a majority of underclassmen.

  “This team has a lot of athletic ability and strong senior leadership,” Stanley said. “Our captains, Chelsea Palvano and Callie Alvis, are two dedicated and hardworking young ladies who understand the importance of doing the little things correctly.”

  That senior leadership will become necessary. “Our biggest weakness will be experience,” Stanley said. “We are a very young team and we need to grow up on the court if we want to have a successful season.”

  Even with the youth and lack of experience, Stanley feels this team has the potential for long-term success. “If these kids work as hard as I have seen them work in the past, they have a chance to be very successful but they have to work hard and realize that it is easier to say you want to win than it is to actually demonstrate it.”