Even with a Wealth of Experience on Roster, BHS Volleyball Team Not Taking Offseason Lightly
By Chris Johnson on June 30, 2024
This time last year, Bridgeport High School volleyball coach Ali Burton knew she had two big pieces of the puzzle in a state player of the year candidate Myleigh Smell and an experienced and steady setter in Ella Sorine.
Other than that, there were a lot of unknowns prior to the 2023 season. The Indians had plenty of talent but not a ton of experience at every spot on the court.
It all came together of course as Bridgeport finished with a record of 40-8-7 and advanced to the state tournament for the ninth consecutive time with Burton at the helm.
Seven players who saw action in the state tournament at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center are back including Smell, who figures to be a frontrunner for player of the year honors once again.
Sorine and Caroline Deniker, one of a handful of players who had a breakout season in 2023, are the only two lost to graduation.
With that much experience back combined with the Indians staying in Class AAA in the new quad A format for volleyball, expectations are through the roof. But that doesn’t mean Burton or the Indians are taking the offseason lightly.
“Overall, everything has been good,” Burton said of her team’s flex days for offseason practice. “Big picture, we feel good about this season but obviously we have work to do.
“We’re trying different girls in the setter role replacing Ella. You lose your setter, that’s a big piece. Your hitters are used to hitting with Ella now we have to learn one or two of three other sets of hands and adjust to their sets.
“We’re trying to get some more people swinging in the front row. We need someone else, not just one, I would prefer multiple, to score other than Myleigh. And we’ve got a handful of girls that could step up and do that.
“But our back row, our service/receive is solid.”
Burton said they have had as many as 22 girls show up for practice this summer including a talented group of freshmen that are quickly getting familiar with one another and familiar with the program.
In addition to practice time in their own gym, the Indians have played in a handful of tournaments with their best showing coming at an event at Philip Barbour where they beat the Colts in the quarterfinals, defeated University in the semifinals and fell to Hedgesville in the championship round.
Editor's Note: Photos from BHS volleyball flex day practice by Joe LaRocca.
