By Mike Ridaught
Twitter – @ridaught
Last year the Newberry High School volleyball team dropped down in classification and played for a state title.
In 2017 and 2018, the Panthers went undefeated in league play to win back-to-back Class 5A-District 4 titles. They were a combined 21-0 against district opponents.
Newberry went 9-0 last year in league play to win the 1A-District 7 title, and then made a run all the way to the Class 1A state championship.
Despite falling to Sneads in the title game, Newberry was back.
It was the second time in the past four years that the Panthers had reached the state volleyball championship. They also lost to Sneads in the 2016 Class 1A Final.
Assistant coach Hank Rone takes over for head coach Sherrod Moseley this season. With seven returning starters, the Panthers should be in the mix to make it back to Fort Myers.
“We are a veteran team,” said Rone, who enters his sixth year overall. “Our girls are up for the challenge and we are looking forward to a great 2020 season.”
Despite key losses such as outside hitter Kalen Bennett (signed with Gateway College in Lake City) and 4-year letter winner Rylee Coleman (529 assists as a senior), the Panther do return some of their key players from last year.
“Senior setter Sarah Miller will be running the show for us this year,” said Rone. “We have a great Libero in junior Abby Pace to provide us with solid defense.”
Rone said they have some heighth in seniors Grace Oelrich (6’0) and Paige Dinges (6’1) who will bring “great experience to our front row. I expect a lot of production from them.”
Last year, Oelrich finished 3rd in the voting for the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A Player of the Year. She led the team in kills with 254 while Dinges finished second with 228 kills.
Newberry will play a very competitive schedule in 2020 that includes Class 6A Gainesville, 7A playoff contender Bartram Trail (St. Johns) and Class 2A State Runner-up Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto).
Newberry will also be playing in the River City Classic in Jacksonville this year, plus the demands of Class 1A-District 7.
“Our district is very solid this year,” said Rone. “Trenton has a great new coach and some very strong athletic players. Williston is always athletic and coached very sound.”
If Newberry can get through the district, then either Bell or Branford awaits in their half of the regional bracket. Branford beat Bell, the 2018 state runners-up, in last year’s Region Final, and Newberry defeated Branford in the state semifinals.
“Bell is hungry, and they have some great talent,” noted Rone. “Tall, athletic in the front court, and a very experienced setter.”
Newberry will open up the regular season on Tuesday, August 18, at Class 3A Oak Hall School (Gainesville).
School: Newberry High School
Coach & year: Hank Rone (1st year HC, 6th overall)
Number of returning starters: 7
Key losses (Name & position): Kalen Bennett OH (Signed with Gateway College in Lake City) & S/RS Rylee Coleman (4-year letter winner)
Key returning players (Name, position, year): SR, Setter Sarah Miller; SR MH, MB Paige Dinges; MH, MB, SR Grace Oelrich; Libero, JR. Abby Pace; RS, SR Nicole Everson; OH, SR Katie Oxer; DS, S, SR Lily Haugh
Key newcomers (Name, position, year): OH, JR Mykenzie Tiller; DS, JR, Kirsten Thomas
Team notes: District Champions 1A -District 7; State Runners-up in 1A for 2019 Season
Outlook/expectations: “Our district is very solid this year. Trenton has a great new coach and some very strong athletic players. Williston is always athletic and coached very sound. We look forward to competing in a very competitive district. On our side of the state, if you can get through the district, you have Bell or Branford waiting on you. Bell is hungry and they have some great talent. Tall, athletic in the front court and an very experienced setter. We have a very tough out of conference schedule this year: 6A GHS, 3A playoff contender Oak Hall, 7A playoff contender Bartram Trail and Class 2A State Runner-up Seven Rivers Christian School. We will be playing in the River City Classic in Jacksonville this year. SR setter Sarah Miller will be running the show for us this year. We have a great Libero in JR Abby Pace to provide us with solid defense. Middle SR’s 6ft Grace Oelrich and 6ft 1 Paige Dinges will bring great experience to our front row. I expect a lot of production from them. We are a veteran team, our girls are up for the challenge and we are looking forward to a great 2020 season.” – Coach Rone
