Campus News
August 27th, 2024
Lady Lakers continue program development
GC may have most skilled volleyball team since post-COVID restart
Outside/middle hitter Aiyana Yoder (#5), the lone returner on Garrett College's 13-player women's volleyball team, is expected to provide leadership for the Lady Lakers' dozen freshmen.
Brittany Jackson is entering her third season as Garrett College's head women's volleyball coach.
The Lady Lakers look to be more skilled and more diverse – not to mention just more of them – than at any time since the volleyball program's post-COVID restart.
"We've built from 0-18 to 4-14 and we're just continuously growing," said Brittany Jackson, Garrett College's third-year head coach. "It's been all about finding those student athletes who want to be in a competitive environment and contribute to growing a really special program."
Last season, the Lady Lakers sometimes struggled to field a six-player squad and were fortunate enough that athletic outside hitter Alexia Wolf was willing to step in as a first-year setter. This year, Jackson has a 13-player roster that includes three freshman setters – Haylee Beard (Landsdowne HS), Taylor Berg (Smith HS/Aurora, CO), and Karen Cuellar (IES SES Estasions/Palma de Mallorca, Spain) – with diverse skill sets.
"I'm excited to have players who are actually designated setters," said Jackson. "We can really diversify what we run offensively based on their skills. I'm confident that once they get into the rhythm of the [collegiate] game, they'll catch up to the speed at which it's played."
The Lady Lakers are similarly stocked at outside hitter with freshmen Madeline Baker (Allegany HS), Emma McCord (homeschooled/Philippi, WV), Thelma McGee (Electra HS/Electra, TEX), and Eugenia Rosa (IES La Dehesilla/Madrid, Spain) all slated to see time on the outside.
"It's great to have four – we just increased our offense four times over," said Jackson. "We have some who can go all the way around [in the court rotation], and some who can go between the outside and right-side positions.
"I feel like last year we kept up very well defensively," added Jackson. "Now I feel we can match our strong defense with a much stronger offense."
GC's roster also includes three freshman liberos/defensive specialists: Paola Chirino (Vista Ridge HS/Caracas, Venezuela), Kdynze Salinas (Electra HS/Electra, TX), and Kailyn MCoy (Havre de Grace).
"Again, I'll have the ability to sub in and out players who have that experience in the back row," said Jackson. "It's nice to have a defense I know is going to be able to keep up with the strong offensive powers we see in our conference."
Freshman Chi Lalk (Electra HS/Electra, TX) is slated for duty as an opposite-side hitter.
"It's great to have someone specifically trained for the right side," said Jackson of Lalk. "She has a tall block and can be a strong offensive player."
Freshman Brenna L'Hommedieu (University HS, Morgantown, WV) is an outside hitter/middle hitter.
"She's a true middle – she knows how to run it," Jackson said of L'Hommedieu.
The dozen freshmen Jackson has brought in will benefit greatly from the return of outside/middle hitter Aiyana Yoder (homeschooled/Swanton), the squad's only sophomore.
"I'm so excited to have her back," Jackson said of Yoder. "She is such a good on-the-court leader. Her work ethic and demeanor – she'll never stop playing. She comes in at pivotal moments and just makes plays. I'm very happy to have her as a leader for the incoming freshmen."
The Lady Lakers open their season with a 6 p.m. match on September 2nd at reigning state and region champion Harford Community College before traveling to Anne Arundel Community College on September 7th for a tri-match with Hagerstown Community College (noon) and host AACC (2 p.m.).
GC's home opener is against Westmoreland County (PA) Community College on Tuesday, September 10th at 7 p.m.
