MHS Volleyball team is thankful
The MHS Varsity Volleyball team after winning Districts
Submitted by MHS Volleyball head coach Wendy Gebhardt
The Manchester Volleyball program has a lot to be thankful for.
We are thankful to have had a 2020 volleyball season. Amidst a pandemic we began this summer, practicing outdoors, hoping for a season–and we did play. The Manchester Varsity had an amazing season, finishing 8-1 in Cascades Conference, winning the Cascades Conference tournament, making Manchester the 2020 Cascades Conference Champions for the 5th year in a row. Manchester also won a D3 district title for the 4th year in a row.
In fact, the team advanced all the way to Regional finals, where they faced #1 ranked SMCC (last year’s State Champions) when the season ended. Manchester Varsity finished as a Top 16 D3 team in the state, 22-12-1 overall.
We are thankful for the parents and fans that came out to watch our games. When competition first started, MHSAA rules allowed each player to have two (2) guests in attendance. Later, attendance rules softened, and more fans could buy tickets and attend matches to support student athletes. Those in the stands witnessed multiple Manchester varsity players contributing to healthy stats (team totals) including: 1032 Kills, 294 Aces, 42 Solo / 140 Assisted Blocks, 1560 Digs, 1542 Serve Receptions and 965 Assists.
Top contributors in each category included Victoria Woods with 231 kills, Madalyn Wallace 70 aces, Serenity Flint 96.5% from serving line, Morgan Lutton 25 solo blocks / 44 assisted blocks, Gwen Gebhardt 383 digs/540 serve receptions, and Kayla Ridenour 779 assists.
We are thankful for celebrating and acknowledging impressive academic and on-court achievements. Manchester student athletes were accomplished both in the classroom and on the court, and those successes were acknowledged and awarded. Manchester Varsity was named as a 2020 Academic All State team. Victoria Woods, Gwen Gebhardt, Kayla Ridenour received Individual Academic All-State honors for maintaining a 3.7 or better GPA throughout their high school careers. These are tremendous academic honors for a team. Victoria Woods, Gwen Gebhardt, Kayla Ridenour were also voted to the All Cascades Conference Team, by Cascade Conference Coaches, while Serenity Flint received honorable mention. Kayla Ridenour was also voted All Region and broke the Manchester High School career assist record with her career total of 3446 assists (2017-2020). This record was previously held by Abbie Hamilton (2013-2015).
Our JV and Middle School programs were also a success led by 7th grade coach April Stewart, 8th grade coach Jill Corwin, and JV coach Taylor Negus. Coach Stewart led the 7th grade to a 5-3 record, Coach Corwin accomplished a 6-2 record, while coach Negus finished with a 5-2 record inside the Cascade Conference. Coach Negus had a 14-4 overall JV record. These coaches created a solid foundation for the Manchester Program. We are thankful for all our coaches.
What many may not know is finding volleyball coaches for the 2020 season, during a pandemic this summer, was not easy. Open positions went without applicants during most of the summer and took many calls and a lot of searching. At one-point communications went out asking parents to assist and consider coaching. It was during these times that I truly learned to be thankful to those that volunteer to help and for those who have the desire to coach. Luckily, new coaches Taylor Negus and April Stewart stepped up to coach while Lisa Ridenour and Jason Flint volunteered. Lisa Ridenour did a wonderful job overseeing daily Covid-19 check-ins, helped with practices, and kept the official scorebook for JV and Varsity. Jason Flint, even while healing from surgery, was an assistant coach and gave up free time to attend games and practices. These efforts do not go unnoticed and we are thankful for assistants and volunteers.
While overall, the program is grateful for the season, fans, achievements, coaching staff and willing volunteers, I am most thankful that student-athletes and coaches remained healthy.
Go Dutch!
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