THE 2019 VOLLEYBALL REGULAR SEASON HAS COME TO A CLOSE. NOW TEAMS GET SET FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS. THE 4A WEST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT WILL BE HOSTED BY CODY AND FOR THE FILLIES THEY WILL ENTER THE TOURNAMENT AS THE 4 SEED OUT OF THE NORTHWEST AND TAKE ON THE NUMBER SEED OUT OF THE EAST, STAR VALLEY, IN THEIR FIRST MATCH-UP. THE FILLIES HAVE NOT WON A CONFERENCE GAME TO THIS POINT AND SIT AT 15-13 ON THE SEASON. HEAD COACH OF THE FILLIES STEPHANIE BIRCH SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON WHAT MAKES THIS CONFFERENCE SO TOUGH.
“YOU KNOW ITS BEEN ROUGH BEING IN THIS CONFERENCE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. THE COMPETITION IS REALLY GOOD BUT WHAT MAKES THEM EVEN BETTER IS THEIR EXPERIENCE ON US. WE ARE SO YOUNG IN EVERY POSITION THAT NOT ONLY THE AGE GAP BUT ALSO THE SKILL LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OVER THOSE YEARS LEAVES US BEHIND IN THAT AREA, RIGHT NOW.”
THIS SEASON HAS BEEN A LEARNING CURVE FOR THE FILLIES AND WITH THE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT AROUND THE CORNER COACH BIRCH ADDS WHAT THE TEAM IS WORKING ON LEADING INTO THEIR FIRST ROUND MATCH-UP.
“OUR PASSING AND DEFENSE. IF WE DON’T PASS THE OTHER TEAMS SERVES, IF WE DON’T DIG OR BLOCK THE OTHER TEAMS HITS THEN WE DON’T GET A CHANCE TO HAVE ANY OFFENSE. SO THAT’S KIND OF WE’RE WE’VE STRUGGLED, IS STOPPING THE OTHER TEAMS BIG HITTER AND ALSO BEING DOMINATED BY A SERVE FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS IN A ROW. SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON MOSTLY.”
AS FOR HOW THE FILLIES ARE GOING TO MAKE IT BACK TO STATE, COACH BIRCH LAYS DOWN WHO HAS TO BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER THIS WEEKEND.
“IT’S A TEAM EFFORT RIGHT NOW BUT IF I COULD PICK ONE POSITION IT WOULD BE OUR RIGHT SIDES AND OUR SETTERS. THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SET THE BLOCK UP AND STOP SOME OF THOSE BIG HITTERS. EITHER BY BLOCKING IT, SLOWING IT DOWN OR JUST GETTING IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO WE CAN PLAY DEFENSE AROUND IT.”
THE CODY FILLIES HOST THE 4A WEST REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE FILLIES BEGIN FIRST ROUND PLAY FRIDAY AT 2:30 IN THE AFTERNOON AGAINST STAR VALLEY.
