Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
At the beginning of every season, coaches and players have high expectations. New seasons are always full of promise and lofty goals.
At Bay City Western High School, the volleyball program’s preseason goals were to establish a new system of play and to bring the girls into that system where they felt comfortable and had the opportunity to be successful.
In that respect, coach Steve Clevenger feels that the team has definitely exceeded their goals.
“Other goals have fallen short, yet others have been met, and others are definitely on the verge of breaking out,” Clevenger said.
“This team’s chemistry has been great. There has been a great complementary of parts from known leaders to the support of the minor cast of role players. Everyone on the team has taken to their role and put forth maximum effort to ensure that their role is personally taken care of. As we move into districts, we look at our possibilities in a realistic manner and respect that whoever our opponent will be, [that opponent] will be out to make a statement that they deserve to win the district title, and our job as a team is to show our opponent that we will not allow a championship to be won easily.”
Clevenger feels that coaches love to take a chance on a player and have that player exceed any expectations given to her.
This year, he was fortunate to have a player that, as a sophomore, has become a highly valuable player in the starting lineup. Tonnya Gary has provided solid play and work ethic that even the seniors could envy.
“You can insert Gary into the lineup and be assured that she will put forth consistent effort, and in practice she is one of those players that asks questions, strives for perfection, and puts in extra time before and after practices,” Clevenger said.
“There have definitely been a few bumps along the way. Having a young and inexperienced team, you are definitely apt to have growing pains throughout the season. Growing pains hopefully will turn into learning experiences for the ladies and will be taken into next season as increased maturity.”
Clevenger said that the key player on the Warriors team is not the same as the team MVP. He looks at junior setter Paige Vallier as an extension of himself on the court.
“Paige is extremely well-versed in the offense and provides stability to the team structure to keep them from experiencing the extreme highs and lows during a match,” he said.
“She was unavailable to play the first couple of matches of the season, and her return to the court and to practice provided a profound change in the team dynamics. Our go-to player Danielle Bouza has become our go-to player anywhere on the court. She provides the team with instant offense. This season has been an incredibly rewarding season, not always typified by wins, but personified by hard work and learning to perform as a team.”