Preview: Tigers expect defense and tenacity will take them to fourth straight volleyball crown

The prognosis is made even more complex considering that fellow WYL champion, El Diamante, hasn’t lost anybody from its Valley championship team.

The Tiger volleyball faithful were heartbroken when the Miners last season, after splitting with the Tigers during the regular season, beat Lemoore in the valley finals.

Lemoore finished a sterling 25-4 a year ago including a 10-1 spring through the WYL, the only loss to El Diamante. The Tigers returned the favor to force a tie for the league title. Indeed the WYL was a tough place to win a title. In addition to El Diamante and Lemoore entering the playoffs, Redwood also played in a division title game.
“We’ve won league every year I’ve been here, or we’ve split it with someone,” said fourth year Tiger Coach Rachel Taylor. She added that there are a few volleyball enthusiasts who aren’t expecting Lemoore to challenge again for the title, but Taylor says they’re underestimating the tenacity of her Tiger squad.

“We’re going to be more of a defensive team this year,” she said. “We lost seven seniors and El Diamante didn’t lose anybody. We’ll be really scrappy,” she added.

Lemoore graduated two of the best Tiger volleyball players in Jessica McCann and Jessica Sullivan, both of whom earned athletic scholarships, McCann to Westmont College in Santa Barbara and Sullivan to West Florida University.

One of the brightest spots for the Tigers is the return of senior Maggie Billingsley, last year’s WYL Most Valuable Player. The fourth year varsity player expects to anchor Lemoore’s offense and defense. “I’m excited about Maggie,” said Taylor. “She knows the game really well. She has the heart of a winner and she knows the heart of the team.”

Third-year player Jessica Taylor also is a bright spot for the Tigers. The talented junior is a key defensive and offensive players and probably the team’s best passer.

Coach Taylor said all the young ladies on her team are eager to get the season started and have worked hard in preparing for the upcoming season, including players like senior Emma Larson who “always wants to learn and get better,” said Taylor. “She really knows the game.”

Senior Sara McCann is returning to the squad after a busy summer playing volleyball for a USA team.

“This group of girls are hard workers and they want to learn. We’re going to surprise people by our work ethic alone.”

Lemoore will play a scrimmage on Friday, August 16 against Kings Christian and Sierra Pacific at Sierra Pacific at 4:30 p.m.