BY TERI TUNE
Even with injuries plaguing them, the Vikings are off to a great start in the volleyball season and only look to improve and get stronger as the season goes on.
“We started with a very young team and have a lot of injuries right now, so it’s giving my younger girls even more playing time,” said Potterville head coach Don Peterson.
The Vikings have a record of 14-6-1 overall and 3-1 in their league. They tied for third last year, and coach Peterson is looking to improve on that.
“Even with the injuries, the girls are doing good. I’ve put some girls in spots where they are not really comfortable with, and so far they are pushing through,” he said.
The key to their success seems to be with somebody that the coach considers to be the quarterback of his team.
“Jessica Ritchey has been a starter for all four years,” Peterson said. “When the girls are being forced to play positions that they haven’t before or are not comfortable with, she is right there to sit them down and talk to them. There’s nothing better than having a senior on the team that’s been a varsity starter for all four years and knows what’s going on out there. She runs the offense just like a quarterback. She is a phenomenal player and very smart. Most of the time, I don’t even have to say anything; just look at her and she nods because she already knows what I’m going to tell her. Other years I’ve had two or three girls that helped lead the team, but this year I have put it all on her shoulders.”
Ritchey has settled into her role as a team leader seamlessly and has helped to guide the Vikings to the upper half of the conference standings.
“It’s fun, and I like to be the leader out there,” said Ritchey. “We are struggling in some spots, and I like to be the one to help tell the girls what we need to do. As the season goes on we will get better. One of our goals is to improve as a team. We would also like to win our league and go on to districts.”
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