Friday, September 30, 2011
Photo
Girard’s Kara Miller (22) watches as Amy Jackson (13) and Katanna Austolosh (6) of Campbell Memorial set the ball during their All-American League volleyball match Thursday at Campbell Fieldhouse. The Indians defeated the Red Devils, 3-0.
Campbell
When the ball is inches above the net and Callie Jay is ready to jump, her world freezes. The Girard junior is in her zone and to those waiting on the other side; a warning: watch out. When it’s all said and done, she has just one reaction.
“You just want to scream as loud as you can. It’s the most exciting feeling,” said Jay.
After 11 kills in a three-set victory over Campbell, Jay had quite a few moments to celebrate.
She can’t take all the credit, though.
“The whole game revolves around communication,” she said. “If everybody’s not in sync, nothing can go right.”
Things have been going right for quite some time in Girard and it’s all paying off now. Many of the girls have been playing together for the school and club teams for over six years. Learning the fundamentals step-by-step years ago has been the building blocks for the success in 2011.
“Starting young with a good coaching staff really helps,” said Morgan Walters, who tallied six aces and 23 assists on Thursday. “My dad has been helping me out since I was 7. I was kind of a gym rat when I was younger so I was really involved with the sport.”
Her dad, Phil, is the head coach for both the Indians and the Club I team that travels throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the summer.
“When they put in the time during the offseason it surely shows during the season,” Phil said.
Callie’s older sister, senior Bryanna Jay, had eight kills against the Red Devils and has seen many advantages in playing at the club level before high school.
“Club is a lot faster,” she said. “Playing club, you’re used to seeing the ball more.”
The combination of the Jay’s together has fueled the Girard offense.
“They both play good, fundamental ball for us,” Phil Walters said. “They’re definitely the strong point in the lineup and with them out there it sure makes the difference. They both get to the high point and keep defenses on the run.”
There’s a controlled confidence that spikes the Indians. They’ve had a great season thus far. A recent ranking has them at 13th in Division III and the team chemistry is high.
“You can’t get cocky now,” Bryanna Jay said. “It doesn’t matter what happens now as opposed to when the tournament starts.”