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Youth Served: Inexperience Not An Issue

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2008

Bayshore Christian volleyball coach Melanie Humenansky doesn't have the luxury of developing talent on the junior varsity. Her players know they must be prepared to contribute at a young age.

Although the Faith Warriors own four state titles, none have come by a senior-driven team. Of the 10 players on this season's roster, three are seniors.

Bayshore's kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment is a little more than 300. At the high school level, the estimated number of students is 70.

The Faith Warriors (16-10) will attempt to defend last year's title starting Wednesday, when they host Lakeside Christian at 7 p.m. in the Class 1A region quarterfinals.

"If they grow up at the school, and everyone on the team has, it's already implanted," Humenansky said. "My two seniors have been there for 14 years. It's a known fact."

When the Faith Warriors lose players to graduation, it's monumental. This year, Bayshore's returning players had huge shoes to fill with the loss of hitter Jannica Mollett, an All-American and Florida Dairy Farmers 1A Player of the Year, and all-state setter Ashlea Ballengee. In 2007, the team had a similar challenge when it had to replace two all-state senior hitters, Adria Mullaney and Heather Johnson.

Fortunately for Bayshore, Humenansky knows how to develop talent.

"The schedule I have is tough," she said. "It proves to them they are capable of playing with the big schools. That builds confidence."

Sophomore outside hitter Gabrielle Fernandez is a three-year varsity member at Bayshore. As a freshman, she made the 1A all-state second team after finishing the season with 182 kills.

"It has taken hard work and dedication for the team to be where we are now, but I feel we have finally reached a point where we are ready for the state tournament in Lakeland," Fernandez said. "I expect it to be hard and I expect nothing to be given to us."

Fernandez, now 6 feet, is one of the leading hitters in the Bay area with 357 kills. Sophomore Amanda Mirabella is the second-leading setter in Hillsborough County with 610 assists.

Bayshore would have had a returning all-state libero in Sara Lucia, but the would-be senior moved to North Carolina before the season. Junior Ashley Rios, a first-year varsity player, and sophomore Hannah Mirabella, Amanda's cousin, have shared the position.

"I talk to them about the legacy teams before them have left behind," Humenansky said. "Tradition needs to continue."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848.

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