Central Valley girls volleyball uses tough nonsection slate to prepare for playoffs

By: William Whalen
Sunday, September 16, 2018 | 10:39 PM

There’s right around five weeks until the start of the WPIAL girls volleyball postseason, which leaves plenty of time for Central Valley girls volleyball coach Kevin Hummert to test his No. 3-ranked Warriors before the playoff brackets are released in late October.

“I love the idea of competition every night,” said Hummert, who is in his third season with the Warriors. “I want to know our flaws. Some coaches like to avoid it and not have those (nonsection) loses, but I like to go out and prove who we are.”

Part of the reason why Central Valley (5-1, 3-1) is one of the top five teams in Class AAA this season is because Hummert and his Warriors don’t shy away from competition; they go out and pursue it.

To condition his team for the long haul and a deeper run in the Class AAA bracket, Hummert went out and scheduled some of the top programs in the WPIAL.

Central Valley started the season against Class AA No. 2 Avonworth and swept the Antelopes in three sets. The Warriors then earned a 3-1 win over Class A No. 1 Bishop Canevin. The Warriors’ remaining nonsection slate includes Class AA heavyweights in top-ranked Freeport and No. 4 Neshannock, in addition to Class AAA No. 4 Thomas Jefferson.

“I try to schedule more nonsection matches, and I like those early-season tests,“ Hummert said. “I like the idea of a competitive nature as long as we stay healthy.”

It’s not as if Hummert and his Warriors are in a soft section. Central Valley has taken up residence in Section 4-AAA this season, and a quick glance at the Warriors schedule resembles a WPIAL postseason bracket. Central Valley not only has the defending WPIAL and PIAA champions in the Knoch Knights, but also programs such as Blackhawk, Mars and Hampton have proved there is a narrow line separating the top schools in the section. The Warriors fell to No. 1 Knoch last Tuesday, 3-1, on the road.

“I don’t believe in the pressure, but I do mention it every once and while,” Hummert said. “If you play to your potential every night, the chips will fall where there are.”

Hummert said his team is focused. He handed out a pieces of paper to his players and asked them to write their season goals on it, and everyone of them came back with the same thing — go further than they did last season. Last season ended with 3-2 loss to West Allegheny in the Class AAA quarterfinals.

“I think they see it,” Hummert said. “I don’t think last year’s team saw it.”

The Warriors are led by two seniors on the outside in Tatum LeDonne and Kelsey Dickenson. Both players are tops on the team in kills. Hummert said LeDonne is still getting comfortable on the outside after moving from her middle hitter position.

The key to Central Valley’s success this season is how well senior libero Samantha Yetsick adjusted to replacing 2017 all-state selection Kennedy Muhl. Yetsick has been up for the challenge while also bringing a calming presence to the back line.

“I was wondering how Sam would handle the pressure of taking over for Kennedy, and she handled it great,” Hummert said. “Teams are starting to serve away from her, and that’s one of the biggest compliments you can get.”

Setter Kaitlyn Lyons, along with senior Dana Bartoletta and juniors Cameron Flinchum and Hannah Engelman, round out the starting rotation. One thing that might keep Hummert up at night is injuries. He admits if LeDonne and Dickenson were to go down, it would be tough replacing that kind of talent.

“Its a matter of staying healthy and if something were to happen to (LeDonne) or (Dickenson), I don’t have players that can match them at their level,” Hummert said.

As for the big picture, Hummert feels like there’s not much separating the top 16 teams in Class AAA. A sudden injury or a team going into a match flat, can mean all the difference this season.

“We could be that team that gets beat in the quartefianls or we could be that team that plays in the (Class) AAA championship game,” Hummert said. “I don’t think there’s a standout team in your top 15 (or) 16 seeded teams. You can still get blown out if you’re not focused on your A-game.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Central Valley