![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
West Linn’s volleyball team this year is “a young team that each player brings attributes and strengths to,” Michelle Hoover, varsity assistant coach, said. “They have energy, leadership and a drive to compete.”
With only three seniors, Leah Beyer, Mackenzie Grandville and Shawna Erickson, it truly is a young team. Don’t let that fool you; their goal is to finish in the top three of the Three Rivers League.
West Linn will face its toughest league competition Oct. 22 against Clackamas and Oct. 23 against Lake Oswego at home. New players to watch for this season include Hannah Clarke, junior, Hanna Rucker, sophomore, and Kendra Ogden, freshman.
The team is off to a great start in preseason, as they beat both McNary and Bend.
“It’s been a good opportunity for the players to learn their positions and roles. It is good for the team to work at higher levels,” Hoover said, “It was a positive learning curve whether we had ended up winning or losing.”
Coach Carl Neuberger, who has been coaching the Varsity team for the last 14 years, continues to grow the program. Along with Hoover, their goal is to encourage the girls to remain committed to the program, which helps keep it competitive and strong in the “West Linn way,” as Hoover put it.
This season, the girls are motivated by their team motto: “The player you are today will outperform the player you were yesterday.”
For the entire 2013-2014 schedule, full rooster, and player and team stats, go to www.road9sports.com/team/WestVolleyball.
