A well-documented, magical run for the Lady Indians culminated with a dogpile on the court as TFS celebrated its first-ever team State Championship. Despite a handful of key players graduating off the roster, including the best to ever suit up for TFS in Sarah Jennings, the cupboard is anything but bare.
A pair of front-row serving players anchor the lineup, starting with senior Addy McCoy, an All-State selection who was at serve when TFS won the title, recording aces on the final two points. McCoy has 391 career kills (5th all-time) and 183 aces (6th). But the roster includes several other impact players who are a year advanced and more experienced.
“We are looking forward to Addy returning and dominating the net and service line,” adds coach Matt Heyl, who enters his sixth season over the program. “She is already a much better attacker with her offseason club experience and training. Katarina Foskey will be key to our success. She has played just less than a year, but with her vast improvement over the club season, she and Addy will be looked on at the start of the season to be the offensive weapons.”
With Ashlyn Yaskiewicz’s improvement, Heyl says she will fill an outside hitter position after losing two of the best outside hitters TFS ever had in Sarah and Elsa Sanchez.
“Our other key returners and leaders Skylyn Yaskiewicz, Claire Kelly, and Julianne Shirley will be looked at to get some solid playing time,” says Heyl.
Returning sophomores Kate Gary and Becca Heyl should provide some great energy and experience from last year’s varsity run. Becca will most likely fill the other outside hitter position. Kate will be the starting libero and will be looked at to keep the TFS defense on their toes with what coach Heyl calls her “grit and amazing digging ability.”
Chesney Tanksley, last year’s JV starting setter, might see some big minutes to help run offense this year. She will have some competition with Dunja Vukelic, an incoming freshman from Serbia. Heyl says both will have big shoes to fill in the loss of Kitty Rodenas.
The Lady Indians, according to Heyl, will have strengths in a couple of areas they haven’t before. This will give TFS a new look, but with it comes added excitement.
“For the first time in TFS history, the middle attackers will be where most of our offense goes to,” explains Heyl. “Historically, the outside hitters are counted on to do most of the offensive work. We will be more well-rounded offensively with our middle attackers McCoy and Foskey leading the way.”
After going undefeated at home last year and rolling up a final mark of 35-11, winning the Area Championship and State Championship, the Lady Indians are set for an encore performance.
“Key players have improved so much over this past club season that my expectations are far above where they were eight months ago. I would expect us to be a top-10 team in the state again,” says Heyl. The coach adds, if the Lady Indians can get through the tough Sweet Sixteen Match against Area 6, “I believe we can get to the Final 4.”
TFS opens the season on August 8 at North Forsyth against the host school, Westminster, and Dawson County. The Lady Indians will play about a dozen matches prior to the first home contest against Banks County and Rabun Gap on August 21.
Senior night is scheduled for October 12 against Morgan County.
