Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON — Some order was restored to the Delaware high school volleyball universe last year when Ursuline returned to the state tournament after an uncharacteristic two-year absence. The Raiders put together an 11-4 regular season and stormed through the playoffs, reaching the Bob Carpenter Center, where they took third place in the tournament.
Five seniors are gone from that team, including two who made all-state teams, but coach Sue Heiss is confident in the returning talent to keep Ursuline from enduring another year on the outside looking in.
“Our seniors that are returning are our setter (Morgan Blasetto) and two defensive specialists (Alexandra Kochie and Arden Sullivan). There’s still at least half of them that have varsity experience.”
Manning the front lines for the Raiders will be freshman Corinne Furey, who played varsity last season, and sophomore Taylor Wright. Samantha Davis, a junior, is back at the libero spot. She was a third-team all-state selection in 2015. Heiss is eager to see what her newcomers can do.
“There’s a new energy with the young players coming in. They’re so anxious to learn. They’re like sponges. They just want to do everything. It’s fun,” she said.
Ursuline, as usual, plays one of the toughest schedules in Delaware, including Wilmington Friends, Archmere, Newark Charter, Delaware Military and Wilmington Charter. That does not include the other members of the Catholic Conference, each of whom the Raiders will play twice. They will be battle-tested when the tournament rolls around.
“It encourages the young people to give more than 100 percent every time we practice,” Heiss said.
Schedule
09/09/16 Friday DELMAR 6:15 pm
09/13/16 Tuesday @ St. Elizabeth 7:15 pm
09/19/16 Monday ST. GEORGES TECH 7:15 pm
09/22/16 Thursday PADUA 7:15 pm
09/27/16 Tuesday FRIENDS 7:15 pm
09/29/16 Thursday @ St. Mark’s 7:15 pm
10/03/16 Monday ST. ELIZABETH 7:15 pm
10/07/16 Friday @ Archmere 6:15 pm
10/14/16 Friday @ Newark Charter 6:45 pm
10/19/16 Wednesday @ Delaware Military Academy 7:15 pm
10/21/16 Friday WILMINGTON CHARTER 6:30 pm
10/25/16 Tuesday CONCORD 7:15 pm
10/27/16 Thursday @ Padua 7:15 pm
10/29/16 Saturday ST. MARK’S 6:45 pm
