After coming ‘so close’ in 2020, Catawba Ridge volleyball clinches first region title
The Catawba Ridge volleyball team has become the first one in York, Chester and Lancaster counties to be named region champions.
The team has also made some history of its own.
The Copperheads can now find a place in the trophy cabinet for their first volleyball region championship in the program’s three-year history. They currently own an overall mark of 18-8 and a region record of 7-0. And with only one region match left, they have locked up the title.
Alicia Lisee has been the head coach for the Copperheads since the school opened in Aug. 2019, and she has watched her team grow each season. Last year, Catawba Ridge finished second in the region and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
She set goals for this year’s group, and the first one has now been completed.
“We wanted to win the region after coming so close last year,” she told The Herald in a recent interview. “The players have worked very hard, and they have been focused on that first goal all year.”
The Copperheads roster of 15 players has six seniors, and their leadership has been a key to the success thus far, Lisee said.
“They have done a good job leading this team,” she added. “They were leaders last year as juniors, but this year being their final year, they turned it up a notch.”
Catawba Ridge has a set starting lineup, and they use three players in rotations during the match. The situation dictates how those players are used.
Seniors Katie Lammers, Janelle Ilacqua and Marissa Fakes all start for the Copperheads. The starting group is rounded out by juniors Neely Atkins (who is the setter), Emma Wallen and Ariel Bryant. Senior Kelly Long, junior Emma Campell (who is the backup setter) and freshman Sarah Rocheleau are the three players used the most in the rotations as the match moves along.
“We have very good chemistry with our starting six players,” she said. “When we substitute, that chemistry among those on the floor is still there. That has been a key for us.”
The Copperheads have dominated in their seven region wins. Six of their seven wins have been by scores of 3-0. The other match was decided by a count of 3-2.
Catawba Ridge has also played a very tough non-region schedule, and that is by design. Ten of their non-region matches have been against 5A competition. They have also played in some tough weekend tournaments. They have not won all of the matches, but they have been competitive.
“I want to win every match we play, but playing those tough teams in the non-region matches and in weekend tournaments prepares us, “ Lisee said. “Those matches make us focus on competing, and they have helped us become a much better team.”
Despite the fact that the Copperheads have wrapped up the region crown and the No. 1 seed in the postseason that goes with it, they are not resting on their laurels.
“We will continue to work hard, stay focused and improve every day,” she added. “We still have one region match left as well as some very tough non-region matches and weekend tournaments.”
Despite the youth on the team, Lisee is not surprised at the success they have had so far.
“I am pleased with where we are right now, but I expected this if we played to our potential,” she added. “We still have some work to do, but our confidence is improving every day.”
She added: “We need to be sure that we are working together. The players need to ask themselves what can I do better to contribute. Most importantly we need to continue to communicate with each other on the floor.”
The Copperheads have two matches this week. They travel to Indian Land on Tuesday to finish the region season, and then host cross town rival Fort Mill on Thursday. The following week, which is the last week of the regular season, finds them taking on two more 5A opponents in Nation Ford and Clover.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE AREA REGIONS
The region schedule is heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, and only one region has crowned a champion thus far. Several others are getting close. Also, the playoff spots are beginning to take shape. This week’s matches will go a long way in determining all of that.
Region 3-5 A
Nation Ford is first with a 4-1 region mark and an overall record of 17-8. Fort Mill and Boiling Springs are tied for second. Fort Mill is 3-2 (15-5), while Boiling Springs is 3-2 (14-8). Clover is fourth at 2-2 (8-4), and Gaffney is fifth at 0-5 (2-9).
Region 4-5 A
Rock Hill is first at 5-0 in the region and 19-8 overall. Blythewood is second at 3-1 (11-6), while Northwestern is third at 3-2 (6-7). Spring Valley is fourth at 1-4 (3-9), and Ridge View is 0-5 (0-8).
Region 3-4A
Catawba Ridge is 7-0 in region play and 18-8 in all matches. South Pointe is second at 4-2 (5-6), and Indian Land follows in third place at 3-3 (6-7). York is fourth at 1-5 (5-9), while Lancaster is 0-5 (0-8).
Region 4-3A
Mid-Carolina is first at 4-0 in the region and 6-6 overall. Keenan and Fairfield Central are tied for second. Keenan is 3-2 (5-7), while Fairfield Central is 3-2 (3-6). Chester is fourth at 2-4 (4-7), and Lower Richland is 0-4 (0-8).
Region 4-2A
North Central is first at 9-0 in the region and 19-1 in all matches. Andrew Jackson is second at 7-1 (10-5) with Buford third at 5-3 (8-3). Chesterfield is fourth at 4-4 (7-5) with York Prep 3-5 (6-8), Cheraw 1-7 (1-8), and Central 0-9 (1-11) completing the region.
Region 2-1A
Lewisville is first at 5-0 in the region and 9-1 in all matches. McBee is second at 3-1 (5-5), and Governor’s School is next at 1-1 (1-4). Great Falls is 1-4 (3-7), while CA Johnson is 0-4 (0-9).