Dialog reporter
CLAYMONT — After winning the state title in 2014, the Auks made another run to the final last season, where they ran into the DMA buzzsaw. Several key seniors have graduated, but no matter how many players Archmere loses to graduation, coach Mary Pat Kwoka has her team ready to compete with the state’s best. Three starters return, although Kwoka must replace one of Delaware’s best liberos and a talented middle hitter.
In addition, the Auks were dealt a blow over the summer when senior Zoe Akoto, a prolific outside hitter, tore her left anterior cruciate ligament. Kwoka will rely on a host of players to pick up the slack, both as players and leaders. Seniors Grace Merritt, a middle hitter, and setters Tori Mock and Kaylie Leclerc will be invaluable, but everyone will contribute.
“They’re going to keep the composure on the floor, my setters,” Kwoka said. “My middles (Merritt and Lexi Kelly) are going to have to stay strong and solid. We’re going to have to get them involved in the offense. Nikki Kelly and Amy (Thomson) hopefully are going to be a staple of our defense and our offense.”
Leclerc said the offense has been a strength in the early going. “Right now, we have some holes on the defense, so in practice we’ve been working on passing to get the ball to Tori and I. We really think that we have a strong front row.”
The Auks will carry a larger roster than usual at 16 players, half of whom are freshmen and sophomores. Each one of the girls will have a job to do, according to Leclerc.
“We’re really just working on being a team. We don’t have any standouts like we did last year. Everybody just needs to play together and play their role and do their job on the court,” she said.
The Auks again will have a very difficult schedule, one that readies them for the rigors of the postseason. Six of their first nine matches are at home and include Polytech, DMA, St. Mark’s and Ursuline. Archmere hits the road for five of its final six, including consecutive matches at Friends and Padua, before finishing up the regular season vs. Tower Hill.
They might be young, but by the time the playoffs come around, Archmere should be playing elite-level volleyball once again. They should be poised to go deep into the tournament. Right now, however, the only opponent that matters is Appoquinimink, the first one. Kwoka said a playoff run would be nice, but she has other goals as well.
“A successful year, I think, is the kids learning. We’re all having fun. We stay focused about the team, we have good camaraderie, and we try to win and compete at every match,” she said. “Winning is fun; I’ve never met a happy loser. We try to win. We work hard at winning. We work hard at trying to be successful.”
Schedule
09/09/16 Friday: APPOQUINIMINK 6:15 pm
09/13/16 Tuesday: @ Newark Charter 6:45 pm
09/16/16 Friday @ Wilmington Christian 6:15 pm
09/20/16 Tuesday POLYTECH 6:15 pm
09/22/16 Thursday CONCORD 6:15 pm
09/27/16 Tuesday ST. MARK’S 6:15 pm
09/30/16 Friday @ Wilmington Charter 6:15 pm
10/04/16 Tuesday DELAWARE MILITARY ACADEMY 6:15 pm
10/07/16 Friday URSULINE 6:15 pm (Homecoming)
10/11/16 Tuesday @ St. Elizabeth 7:15 pm
10/14/16 Friday @ Conrad 5 pm
10/18/16 Tuesday @ Friends 5:15 pm
10/21/16 Friday @ Padua 6:45 pm
10/27/16 Thursday @ A.I. DuPont 6:15 pm
10/29/16 Saturday TOWER HILL 12:15 pm
