Andrews Volleyball building for the future

By Neill Kirkpatrick

Special to the HSSR

Andrews – Heading into the 2024 season Andrews head coach Joy Weisner knew she wanted to take her program in a new direction and to do that they needed to improve in a few areas such as floor coverage, communication and becoming more aware on the court.

“We are a young team as we lost five seniors but we are a much-improved team despite our youth,” said coach Weisner. “We are trying to build a program where the girls work hard, are good teammates and good people. We are getting there.”

Coach continued, “We are covering the floor better than we did last year. The girls are communicating better which has made us better. The thing I like the most is how versatile this team is on the court. I have several girls that can play anywhere on the court.”

Senior Captain Samiyah Hollaway is the leader of this young squad. She is a lefthanded hitter that plays all the around the court.

The teams top player is junior middle hitter Davis Addyson. She is one those versatile players that coach Weisner spoke about. Not only does Addyson lead the team in kills and is tied for the team lead in digs, but she is also second in aces and third service receiving.

Haleigh Port, a junior setter, is one of several players that have moved up from the JV team and can do several things for the Lady Yellowjackets. She is the team leader aces and second in assists. She is a  very good setter; she can get to every ball and makes excellent passes.

Also, up from the JV is the teams libero and captain Sarah Jennings. She has great floor coverage

Juniors Briana Walker and Emmalee Lambert are middle/outside hitters. Lambert leads the team in service returns and is not afraid to go to the floor while Walker is second in kills and is on the team’s top servers.

Two young players that have made an impact are sophomore Cloe Skipper and freshmen Tori Smith. Smith leads the team in assists and is tied with Addyson for the team lead in digs and is third in aces while Skipper has shown her all around skill with being among the leaders in several categories.

Rounding out the Lady Yellowjackets are senior Makagen Dangerfield, juniors Savanna Powell, Grace Bratcher, and Brianna Nesmith. Bratcher has seen the most minutes of the bench.

The Lady Yellowjackets have moved into a new region this season with two Charleston area powers in Academic Magnet and Phillip Simmons. They will have to play their best volleyball to pull off an upset of one those two teams.

“The girls have really bought into what we are trying to do and to what is expected of them on the court. We have gotten stronger and faster on the court and we just need to keep getting better,” said coach Weisner.