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By Shannon Heaton | Monday, September 15, 2008 |
When it comes to success on the volleyball court, Moline doesn’t try to re-invent the wheel.
As a result, the Maroons create a lot of victories for themselves, including a 6-0 start heading into tonight’s home opener at Wharton Field House (start time approximately 7 p.m.) against Sterling, with a Western Big Six Conference opener Thursday night at Rock Island.
“We’re blessed, certainly, with a really strong-serving team. It puts us in a good position to start volleys when our opponents are on their heels,” Moline coach Tim Albrecht said. “It’s just basic volleyball. We’re serving and passing well, and the result is a lot of easy points.”
Passing and serving well out of the chute helps overcome what might — on paper — be an experiential disadvantage for the Maroons, who have only two seniors on the varsity roster — three-year starter Halie Ecker and Kathi Hinz, who’s earned her first year as a starter.
“Their expectations are high for themselves, and that’s where it must start,” Albrecht said of his seniors’ leadership. “Right before our first match (last week at Ottawa), Kathi was looking up at the flag, and I said to her, ‘It’s a little different, hearing the anthem when you’re a senior.’ She looked at me and said, ‘It’s a lot different.’
“They feel that sense of urgency; they know it’s their last go-round. I’ve seen a different level of focus out of Kathi, and Halie too, that I haven’t seen in the past. No question, we’re seeing a higher level of play out of both of them.”
A packed weekend
Saturday promises to be one of the busiest days of the year on the Illinois side of the river, with all eight fall sports fully under way and bigger invitationals looming on the horizon.
The local swimming and diving scene sees its first major event of the fall with the Rock Island Invitational meet, which will fill the Rocky pool with swimmers and fans of 12 schools located on both sides of the river.
Diving begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Augustana College diving springboard, located at the Roy J. Carver Center. Swimming begins at 1 p.m. Local teams Pleasant Valley, Moline, United Township, Morrison and Galesburg join the host Rocks, with visiting Dunlap, Macomb, Ottawa, Peoria High, Peoria Richwoods and Quincy all making the trip.
Cross country (Peoria Woodruff) and tennis (Rock Island Red) also will see major invitationals Saturday, and the Western Big Six boys’ soccer picture will start to become clearer, with Moline traveling to Quincy.
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