Right out of the gate this fall, the W.F. West volleyball team had a problem. It was a good problem to have, though.
So many girls turned out for volleyball this season, including more than two dozen freshmen, that there weren't enough spots on the three volleyball teams to fit them all.
W.F. West coach Tiffany Alvarado and her staff decided to add a fourth team, meaning they could keep everyone who wanted to play.
“We can keep girls playing volleyball and keep building the program up,” Alvarado said. “We’re excited to see what happens in the future."
The enthusiasm from the new crop of athletes mixed well with the returners' excitement, and that energy permeated the gym throughout the Bearcats first week of practice.
Alvarado has liked what she’s seen so far, and she’s looking forward to her second year at the helm after a tough Year 1.
“I’m excited to actually have some returners,” Alvarado said with a laugh. “They’re used to my coaching now, and we’re used to each other. It’s a great group of girls, so I’m excited.”
Headlining the returning group are four seniors — middle blocker Grace Simpson, outside hitters Addison Adams and Addison Froschauer, and right side hitter Marley McGreal, who will slide into a starting role this season.
Having some continuity at the top of the varsity squad will help with communication and cohesiveness on the court, which Alvarado said has been the focus point of this first week.
“We struggled last season,” Alvarado said. “I am really looking forward to seeing how these athletes will compete once we get some of those issues taken care of.”
The Bearcats struggled on the court last season, winning just two games and finishing 2-16. They finished second to last in the EvCo standings, six games behind fourth-place Centralia, which took the spot in the district pigtail game.
Even with Rochester and Shelton out of the picture thanks to the WIAA’s latest reclassification cycle, the EvCo is expected to still have four spots in the district tournament, including the No. 4 team in the pigtail.
With the leap that Alvarado expects the seniors to make and the influx of talent from the lowerclassmen, she doesn’t see a reason why the Bearcats can’t be in the mix.
“I have some great leaders on this team,” Alvarado said. “If we can bring together the communication and the teamwork, I think we will definitely be contenders.”
W.F. West’s season will get under way on Thursday, when the Bearcats host Rochester.
