Licking County volleyball teams put on show in first White Field preview

NEWARK — The weather cooperated, and the fans showed up. It was time for the volleyball players to take center stage.

Newark and Newark Catholic hosted their first outdoor preview Thursday at White Field. Several hundred people attended as Newark beat NC in both sets in the nightcap of the six-team event.

“It was a great experience,” Newark senior hitter Ruth Anderson said. “Of course, we are making history, so that’s really exciting. We have been looking forward to it all summer. We are almost like rivals, so it’s always fun to play (NC).”

Earlier, Lakewood won both sets against Licking Valley. Watkins Memorial next split with Heath.

The planning for the event began last February after seeing the University of Nebraska host an outdoor match last year. It turned out to be a smashing success.

“The crowd definitely brings a lot of energy and hypes the team up. We have to perform for everyone,” Watkins senior setter Riley Buechner said. “We didn’t have the best season last year, so we want to come back this year and show everyone that Watkins is back and that we can be better.”

Teams still have a couple scrimmages before the Ohio High School Athletic Association regular season begins Aug. 17, but enthusiastic fans and the uniqueness of the event gave players an extra pep in their step.

“It’s a really cool thing. I definitely feel like this is going to be a tradition going forward,” Licking Valley senior Daizi Hardbarger said. “Being a younger sister of someone who played but never got to experience this, it’s definitely a big deal. It’s really, really cool, especially seeing all of these teams come together. I played against a couple former teammates and a former club coach. We are really all family in the end.”

Lakewood had the better of it against Valley. The Lancers have an experienced senior trio of hitters Aubrey Howell and Charlee Palmer and libero Kenna Parkison plus junior setter Josie Lynch, and they are attempting consistently break through into the win column.

Thursday’s performance was a tone-setter. The Lancers were able to hold off the Panthers led by Hardbarger and classmates Maddie Banks and Makala Bennett.

“At first, we couldn’t see because of the sun, but once the clouds covered it up and the fans started showing up, it was a really cool experience,” Parkison said. “The difference is we have really good team chemistry. We don’t really have a whole lot of drama. We have a lot of good bonding, so I think this is the start to a really good year.”

Watkins took the first set against Heath as Buechner distributed to her hitters up front, and seniors Samantha Speakman and Ella Barbour played well along the back line and from the service line.

Heath rebounded in a back-and-forth second set. The Bulldogs led by seniors Kinley Kaminsky and Kyndall Spicer at the net and junior Ansley Harbage at setter, survived a set point, scoring the final three points to get the split.

“It was different at first because when you look out, everything is farther. The second set we brought it together and did a lot better,” Kaminsky said. “The (comeback) helps us a lot. We’ve probably done it a 100 times coming back against a set point, so we know we can do it.”

Newark enjoyed a quick start in both sets, and the Wildcats showed their power up front with the senior trio of Anderson, Meher Woughter and Olivia Milton and junior Makayla Meister. The Wildcats, who finished 19-5 last season and earned the No. 6 seed in the Division I Central District tournament, return senior Madi Johnson at libero and have slid junior Peyton Sherman into the setter position.

NC, a reigning Division III district champion, mixed and matched throughout the two sets. All-around junior standout Natalie Harrington spent time at setter with senior Jillian Given at libero, and sophomore Leah Caudill and freshmen Layla Jones and Sophia Basham have added to a strong front line that includes seniors Fini Kaiser and Sophie Peloquin.

“It was a fun environment, and this prepared us for our run in the tournament. We all grew tonight and figured out our connections,” Kaiser said. “The (student sections) really pumped us up, and we got excited. It fueled us to get up and play through the tough times.”

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

740-973-4541

Instagram: @newarkurt

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County volleyball teams put on show in first White Field preview