Weedsport Central School District

After a tremendous 15-2 regular season, the Weedsport Varsity Girls Volleyball team is set to begin postseason play this Wednesday, November 5. The Wolverines are the #1 seed, and will host Onondaga at 5 PM.

Head Coach Erik Nicklaw entered the season with big expectations, and his senior-heavy roster did not disappoint.

“My expectations were very high this year and I didn't keep that a secret from the team,” he said. “I told the girls right from day 1 of preseason that I wanted them to compete to win a league title, which they have done. Secondly, I wanted them to make a run through the post season and go to the State Tournament.”

He added that the team’s ability to stay healthy helped put them in the position they are in.

“The most surprising part so far has been the lack of surprises. Injuries are inevitable in sports and we have tried to plan ahead for those things to try and maintain continuity whenever possible,” he said.

While the Wolverines were coming off a successful season last year, this year’s team became the first team in school history to get the #1 seed. Nicklaw again alluded to the roster’s experience when contemplating what has led to that success.

“Last season was a successful year, but I think the way it finished has helped to push the team this year,” he said. “Last year ended with a tough five set loss in sectional finals after being up 2-0. That hurt, but that also helps drive the team forward. The other important piece is experience. The team is loaded with seniors who have a lot of game experience.”

The team has had a sense of a magical season the whole way through, with senior Megan House breaking the school’s assist record early on, and then going on to become the first volleyball player in school history to reach 1,000 assists as well.

“We all are very close and have a very good relationship with each other,” House said. “Nothing about our success has really surprised me. I knew we had the potential to go far as long as we put in effort and had focus.”

Fellow seniors Zoyee Newton and Chelsea Foltz echoed House’s sentiments.

“There is no drama with this team,” Newton said. “The team's mindset going into sectionals is to practice hard and go in with a strong attitude to get the win.”

Added Foltz: “The trust every player on the court has for each other is what has gotten us where we are.”

If the Wolverines are going to make more special moments and memories this season, it will be because they keep doing what they’ve been doing all year, Nicklaw said.

“I hope the mindset is what we have been preaching all year, that we play one way all the time. If we play our game the way we want to, everything else will take care of itself.”