Over the past couple of years, the Ithaca High School volleyball team has re-established itself as one of the top teams in Section IV. That was highlighted last year by winning its first STAC championship in 25 years. With a majority of key pieces back this fall, it’s been business as usual to kick off a new campaign.
The Little Red holds a 6-3 record, as of October 12. They began proceedings on the right foot, winning their first four contests as well as notching a tournament victory in Tioga. They faced some hardship by losing three consecutive games but have bounced back since then with sweeps of Union-Endicott and Maine-Endwell. Head coach Sydney Trumble believes experiencing that mini-rut will benefit her team in the long run.
“We knew going into the season that no game was going to be easy or something that we were going to be able to skate through,” Trumble said. “We were going to have to dig down deep every single game and be able to execute. In the U-E game, we actually were able to see some of the things that we work on every single day… This team is learning how to lead, how to have a voice as a team, and really how to push through adversity when things aren’t quite going our way.”
The Little Red is an experienced unit with nine seniors, the largest such class that they’ve had in a few years. What makes that even more advantageous is that they have at least one senior in every position on the floor. That veteran depth has allowed them to flourish in multiple ways.
“Whether it’s a new drill or whether it’s something that we’ve done before, we have people there that have been through the process,” Trumble said. “I think that definitely speaks volumes, but it also has been really cool to see players step into different roles, whether that’s leadership, whether that’s playing different positions. It’s been really cool to know kids after a number of years in one way, and then this year seeing them do something different.”
The Little Red returns three of its five STAC All-Stars from last year, including All-Conference selection Kiara Thurmond. The senior middle hitter attracts plenty of attention from her opponents, which opens up the net for her teammates to make plays. As her level of play stepped up, her role as a leader has also grown.
“She’s done a great job of really trying to speak to the other people around her, especially the hitters, about why we run things the way that we do,” Trumble said. “It instills confidence in them. She’s doing a great job of vocalizing her belief in them and what role they have and how they can be an asset to this team, which is something that’s completely appreciated as a coach.”
Thurmond is one of two players who has four years of varsity experience. The other is senior setter and reigning STAC All-Division selection Sam O’Connor. While Thurmond and her fellow hitters usually finish off plays, the offense runs through the seasoned O’Connor.
“She’s smart. She reads the net well. She understands where that ball needs to go. But more importantly, she’s consistent,” Trumble said. “Especially when you have players that are new to a varsity team that might be a little bit nervous or not used to the way the setter sets, she provides consistency. She’s provided consistency for us for over four years. She’s become more vocal on the court, but also has an understanding of what level of play she can do, and that’s really exciting to see.”
Complementing the Little Red’s lethal attack is a sturdy back row, led by Brooke Parker. A STAC All-Division selection last year, the senior libero/defensive specialist has moved from the middle back position to an outside back, and she has continued to thrive in a different spot on the court.
“She’s one that never lets a ball drop,” Trumble said. “She just brings a level of play to the court that people want to feed off of. When we were struggling a bit in the back row, she’s one that’s not as vocal with her communication style, but the way she plays is absolutely one that people want to play with and play up to. She’s been a key person in the back row for us to be able to be a constant leader back there and get our passes up.”
With five regular season games and a tournament in Horseheads remaining, the Little Red has plenty of time to ramp up and fine-tune its game in the hopes of having another prosperous postseason.
“We really have to make sure that we are continuing to be consistent,” Trumble said. “We always talk about focusing on our six on the court and not worrying about what’s happening on the other side of the net. That’s still the case in every single game that we play. Making sure that our six on the court at any point in time are as consistent as possible, it only leads to confidence on the court.”
