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Mitchell Girls Looking To Realize Their Potential

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: September 10, 2008

TRINITY - About five years is how long the core of this year's Mitchell High volleyball squad have been on the court together.

They have been five years largely defined by successes and victories, dating back to an undefeated season during the upperclassmen's middle school days.

Now this experience-laden group comprised of primarily seniors and juniors has its expectations set high, leading into what will be many players' last season together.

"In middle school we had the same group and we played on this court," senior outside hitter Ariela Salvati said recently, following the Mustangs' dismantling of an overmatched Sunlake team. "It's our last year, so we want to make it our best."

In total, of the 15 varsity players on the roster, 13 are upperclassmen (seven seniors and six juniors). While it is always a blessing to have such an affluence of experience returning, it is even more so in the typically ultra-competitive Class 6A, District 7.

The 2007 Mustangs missed out on the playoffs despite posting an impressive 19-8 overall record. District foes Sickles and Countryside just so happened to be especially strong also.

With both aforementioned programs perhaps slightly less imposing heading into 2008, this may be Mitchell's best shot yet at securing their first postseason berth since 2003.

"(Sickles) is going to be good, Countryside is going to be good; it's going to be a dog fight," Mitchell head coach Keith Paulk said.

This group's play on the court will also have a different style compared to years past, Paulk noted. Above all, he said his team's ability to dig, save plays and control the ball are its top strengths.

Much of that is due to necessity. Although what Paulk lost in roster slots from 2007 was slight, it was quite the opposite in regards to numbers and production. The three frontline players, most notably Lea Weber who now plays at Valdosta State University, graduated, taking away much of last year's ability to stuff teams at the net.

"I have a small middles this year," Paulk said. "The biggest transition is that Melissa Updegrave (senior) is a brilliant libero and she's actually stepped up and became my best hitting middle."

Natural frontliners or not, players like Updegrave, Salvati, Veronica Harring, Amy Patrella and Victoria Panarese all have the ability and potential to hit big on the attack.

"We're saying in our heads, 'It's our year, we're going to dominate,'" said Harring, the team's on-court leader according to Paulk.

"She's played with club and school teams at a really high level since seventh grade, she started as a freshman and she's got the most overall experience, so she's a natural leader," Paulk said.

As of Monday, the Mustangs are off to a 2-0 start in 2008 and the head coach said he is happy with what he has seen early on. But the real challenges have yet to come.

The upperclassman experience is expected to alleviate some of the pressures that will come with a full season's tests intangibly as well, Harring said, saying this group is a lot closer than it ever has been in the past.

"So far we look good," Paulk said, noting that it is extremely early in the year. "But we still haven't played Countryside or Sickles yet."

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