As the 2021 inches closer to first serve, the Lady Indians are loaded with experience and talent despite losing one of the program’s top players in history in Katy Corbett. Corbett, a Mercer beach volleyball signee, along with two other seniors who graduated, left some holes to fill for TFS. However, plenty of those returning were among the standouts last season and have improved their games heading into this season.
That list of returning key players begins with All-Region honoree Sarah Jennings, who is a junior this season. “Sarah will be our all-around go-to player,” says coach Matt Heyl. “She led the team last season with passing accuracy, second in kills, one of our dig leaders, and one of our best servers.”
Alba Romanos is another big playmaker back, as she will be counted on as a senior on and off the court.
“Alba plays all six rotations,” adds Heyl. “If she becomes a consistently solid player all around we will be solid offensively and defensively. Alba and Sarah are surrounded by our most improved player and setter last season, Allie Dalton, who has been improving this summer. Every starter is key this year. Addy McCoy improved greatly over the winter and spring while playing club. So her blocking and hitting will be key, along with Barrett Whitener and Nancy Fisher, who are both hitting and blocking better than they ever have. I have also seen much improvement in Evette Corwin, who will be our new Libero.”
The program is in the midst of the most successful run in school history, making the state playoffs in each of the past six seasons, and advanced to the Sweet 16 for just the second time after posting 19 wins a year ago.
“The outlook is very uncertain,” cautions Heyl. “In the region, we have five out of the six teams around the same level, and any team could win on a given day. Who the top four out of the region will be is very foggy at this point, which makes state very uncertain as well. It will depend a lot on chemistry and individual improvement on our team and who wants it more out of our region opponents. If we work hard, bond well, and improve in individual skills, we should have a winning record, get at least top two in the region and have a chance to get to another Sweet 16. This team could be the best team I have had in these four years, but that depends on them.”
The team is solid all the way around, with all of the starters logging plenty of time last year and/or significant time this summer in competition.
“Our strength is our chemistry,” says Heyl. “These girls have the common goal of being the very best team they can be and getting farther than they ever have in state. Our weakness is our lack of accountability. These girls are very nice and not willing to step on each other’s toes. I don’t see at this point people stepping up and correcting skill weaknesses or competitive/desire weaknesses they see on the court. When needed, these girls need to be able to push each other to the next level.”
The Lady Indians open the 2021 season officially on Tuesday, August 10, in a tri-match at North Forsyth, taking on the host school as well as Flowery Branch and Lumpkin County.
