Center Line

Keeping the momentum

By Sue Teggart
C & G Sports Writer

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Center Line High’s Emily Moyers sends the ball over the net during an Aug. 24 match against Sterling Heights Parkway Christian. The Panthers lost in three games.

Center Line volleyball bounces into 2010 with focus on offense and jelling as a team

CENTER LINE — After finishing 1-9 (7-12-2 overall) in the Macomb Area Conference Silver Division last season, the Center Line volleyball team turned things around in the postseason and claimed its second district championship in school history.

This coming season brings new competition — the Silver Division welcomes Warren Woods Tower, St. Clair Shores South Lake and Madison Heights Lamphere into the mix — and an opportunity for the Panthers to bounce back.

“Overall, I’m very optimistic about our team,” coach Len Hernandez said. “I think we’ve made improvements on players playing certain positions. We’ve got hitters, and we’ve got some promising returning players. I’m very optimistic about how we look at this point in the season.”

“We have more control, and our hitting is better,” senior captain Emily Tack said about the improvements the squad has made. “We have a lot better communication this year.”

After hitting their stride during last year’s postseason, Hernandez said with half of the girls back on this year’s roster, he hopes to keep that momentum rolling.

“It seems like they are jelling really well together,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of returning players. At the end of last season, they knew what it took to get there, and they’re carrying it on into this season.”

Center Line will rely on seniors Tack, Dina, Lexi Monarch and Ashley Smith, and juniors Sarah Riehl and Jenna Mowinski.

Hernandez added that there is also a good mix of newcomers who have made the transition to the varsity game seamlessly.

“We have several new players, which seem to blend with the rest of the team,” he said. “I think they’re starting to jell early.”

“The new players are filling in the spots that (last year’s) seniors have left,” senior captain Alex Dina said.

Although league matches don’t begin until mid-September, the Panthers are gearing up for new rivals.

“Right now, I expect us to be right in the middle of the pack,” Hernandez said about the new competition. “Not knowing these other three teams that got moved into our division … I’m not sure how we’re going to do up against them, but I think we’ll do well.”

The Panthers opened their season Aug. 24, losing in three games to Sterling Heights Parkway Christian.

Fans can catch the squad in action next at 7 p.m. Sept. 7 against Ferndale High.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Sue Teggart at steggart@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107.