Clover volleyball coach sees improvement in the team
When Tamara Jacobus became head volleyball coach two years ago at Clover High School, she had a reputation as a program-builder at Indian Land, where her teams competed at the highest level.
Though Clover was beaten by Northwestern in three sets last week (25-12, 25-7, 25-17), the Lady Blue Eagles defeated Rock Hill in five sets earlier in the week.
“That was a big, big win for our program,” Jacobus said of the team’s win. “They are a great team and they have great coaches.”
Jocabus said she feels the momentum of the win against Rock Hill carried into the Northwestern match, despite the team’s difficulties in the early stages.
“I think we got a little rattled by Northwestern’s big hitters in that first set,” said CHS coach. “But we calmed down a little bit in the third set and played them much better. We’re looking to build on that.”
At last weekend’s Hillcrest Volleyball Tournament, Clover finished with a 8-3 record.
“We won the silver bracket,” said Jacobus. “Logan Richardson and Brooklyn Thomas were selected to the all-tournament team.”
Jacobus lauded Clover volleyball contingent for competing successfully in the preseason as well as the early stages of regular-season play.
“The girls have been really working hard,” she said. “We have a senior center and senior middle that’s playing all the time. We have four sophomores out there a lot at one time. Our biggest hitters are our sophomores right now.”
In the loss to Northwestern, Thomas and Taylor Stewart contributed to the scoring column in the first set, Thomas with a timely finesse shot and Stewart with a kill.
In the second set, Michella Trolley had a block and kill and Richardson was credited with a kill. Thomas had a spike.
In the third set, Richardson, who scored on a power shot and a well-placed finesse shot, also had a block in the final set.
“I play club throughout the year,” said Richardson, a senior. “My club season starts in November and ends in July. I have a whole year to work on my game.”
Richardson’s goal is to take her game to the next level.
“I’m currently being recruited,” said Richardson, who plans to major in biology and said she prefers the strongest school academically.
With region matches continuing this week, Jacobus has learned about Region 3-AAAA. “There are some really good teams across the state, but this region in the best in the state from top to bottom.”
The CHS volleyball team travels to Nation Ford Thursday, with junior varsity action slated for 5 p.m. and the varsity match at 6:30 p.m.
This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Clover volleyball coach sees improvement in the team."