It’s never easy

STUARTS DRAFT

It was all so simple in the beginning of the season for Stuarts Draft’s volleyball team. The Cougars were the buzz in the Southern Valley District, poised to defend their district championship.

It looked so easy for the team that started 4-0 in district play.

But soon there was the Waynesboro factor. The Little Giants erased the Cougars’ perfect district record and didn’t stop picking up crucial wins. Fast forward to two weeks later and the Cougars found themselves in a logjam after Fort Defiance swept them for a second district loss. Now Waynesboro, Fort and Draft all have two district losses. 

If the Cougars win on Tuesday night against Rockbridge County they will be crowned tri-champions. If that happens, the seeding will be left to a drawing before the S. Valley tournament and there would be no Region III berth given until the district tournament, meaning Draft could be left at home if they can’t get a win in the tournament.

If the Cougars lose, they will be tied for second and the Indians and Little Giants will play in a playoff match for the automatic Region III berth along with the Southern Valley championship. The Cougars have no chance to lock up the region berth before the district tournament.

The Cougars were expecting great things from themselves before the recent playoff scenarios had developed.

Senior Aliya Stevenson remembered when the team had their first meeting of the season.

“After the first time that we met as a team we have improved so much,” Stevenson said. “We talk so much more and hang out together, you know. We just have that chemistry that we didn’t have at the beginning of the year.”

The Cougars coach Kami Meeteer never forced what her vision was at the team’s first meeting. It was the girls that decided what goals that they wanted to achieve.

“She [Meeteer] always told us that we could go far. She knows that she can’t do it for us. We have to do it ourselves,” Stevenson said.

Stuarts Draft won the Southern Valley District last season with a perfect 8-0 record, but they were knocked out during the Region III playoffs.

The pressure is on every season to balance school life and their athletic careers. The Cougars have found a way to deal with hitting the books, going to practice and playing ball. Spending time together off the courts has been one remedy.

“We all go out to eat before every game. It doesn’t matter where we are,” Stevenson said.

The closeness off the court made a difference.

“It makes a big difference,” said senior Kamron Johnson. “If we know how each other acts, than we know how they act on the court.”

Meeteer agreed that the chemistry makes it easier as a coach and as a team to win games.

“They listen because they are happy and they are willing to sacrifice anything for their team,” Meeteer said.

Meeteer said that she knew it would not be easy this year and the game Tuesday night against the Wildcats would be just as challenging.

“We knew that this was going to be a tough district, but I told the girls that they need to work hard and do the best they can do,” Meeteer said.

Working and playing together should help the team over the hump.

“We know how to make each other smile. We are just that close as team right now,” Stevenson said.