State High Volleyball Squad Looks to Build on Success of 2012

A closer look at the 2013 State College Area High School girls’ volleyball team:

Coach — Chad Weight.

2012 record — 19-3, District 6 champions, advanced to state quarterfinals.

Biggest losses — Suzanne Horner

Key returnees — Christne Irwin, Abby Horner, Janae Moran, Sydney McNulty, Tara Neidigh, Abbey Harrington and Kyla Irwin

Strengths — Weight feels that serving and attacking the ball — along with a strong returning class from 2012 — will be the strengths of the team.

“Serving, definitely, will be a strong point,” he says, “and attacking the ball we will be pretty good at.”

Weight also says the team will be bigger overall than last season, and that they could possibly be even more athletic at the net.

Concerns — “My No. 1 concern is that we have two kids who are brand new setters,” Weight says. “That’s our biggest concern. I feel that we are pretty strong everywhere else.

“Setter is a new position for one of the players, and it’s the first time experience at the varsity level for the other.”

Outlook — “We have a good chance to get back to where we were last year,” Weight says. “I honestly feel that, and they feel that way, too. I hope that we could, if not win, at least challenge for the District 6 championship. And when it comes to states, it’s who is playing the best.”

Circle this date — At Central Dauphin East (Sept. 30).