Wilson's small change

By: By Doug Layman Correspondent | News Virginian
Published: November 07, 2008

FISHERSVILLE
Like it or not, change has come.

Wilson Memorial has learned how to handle its Game 2 issues. No more choke, no more lack of focus.

Just as they did on Tuesday against the Bull Run’s Rappahannock County, the Green Hornets remained on task after winning the opening game against Nelson County.

And they did it in style, blowing away the Governors with an 11-1 start.

New rotation. A new sense of confidence.

Junior Noël Bartley opens at service instead of steady senior Christine Coffield.

It’s a different look with some strikingly different results — wins and a newfound confidence.

“We’ve talked about it and worked on it in practice,” Wilson coach Kim Claytor said. “No one is worried about that little change [in the rotation]. Everyone feels confident playing with one another.”

And confidence is a much-needed commodity in a run towards the state tournament.

“We’ve been trying this out with Noël,” Coffield said. “It’s the right service at the right time. It’s a good rotation.”

Coffield — who finished with 18 service points — doesn’t mind the change. She had 10 points in Game 2, including eight in the 11-1 run and added a surprise dink for a point to keep the long rally alive.

“Sometimes I can see one player shift but another doesn’t and it opens up the floor for that type of play,” she said. “It’s my call — I’ll just mix it up.”

Floor leader Kala Guy said that Wilson has stepped it up a notch.

“We’ve gotten over that [Game 2] hump,” she said. “We know each other so well and know how to play with each other that a little change doesn’t affect us.”

Cool, calm and collected, Wilson knocked off a determined Nelson team Thursday, marking its first return to the Group A state semifinals since 2001. Win or lose in the Region B final on Saturday, the Green Hornets are a different team with a ticket to states.

“I knew these kids would get to this point,” Claytor said. “These last two matches, I’ve felt more calm, and that’s not my style.”

But change can be a good thing.