Rams girls win season finale, playoff bound

Jen Green (center), Rams look to make a play

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – The Shepherd Hill girls volleyball team ended their regular season in style with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Sutton on Wednesday (October 31), but the real prize awaits them this week as district play gets under way.

As usual it was a total team effort for the 15-3 Rams in their season finale with seniors Danielle Watkins, Jen Green, and Johanna L’Heureux leading the way in the 20-25, 25-19, 30-28, 25-18 victory over the pesky 17-3 Suzies.

“We have won some tough matches; we have come from behind on three separate occasions down two sets to zero to win. We have been very competitive and have done some good things this year,” said Coach Tom Caffelle.

“I think it would be a big plus for the program if we won a district game,” said Caffelle, who has been the head coach in all six years of the team’s existence. “We have grown quite a bit already and I think we are getting better every year, but it would be a big step up for us I believe.”

Caffelle, who had been a volleyball enthusiast for many years, “jumped” when the opportunity came six years ago to coach the team  and has been pleased with the way the program has progressed.

This season the Rams have been led by an outstanding senior group which includes Sonya Ugrinow, Julie Preissler, Jess Schutrick, and Sarah Ziemski along with Green, Watkins, and L’Heureux.
 

“There are a few girls that want to continue on (after high school). Once again it’s another big step for them because the level of play does increase at the college level, but I think as time goes on we will see more and more players looking to continue to play.  If not that, I think we are going to see a lot of life-long volley ball players, kids that enjoy the game and will play as adults,” said Caffelle.

Stay tuned for more on the Shepherd Hill girl’s volleyball as the playoffs unfold.

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