NEW ALBANY FALL PREVIEW: Bulldogs continuing to mature

By KEVIN HARRIS
Kevin.Harris@newsandtribune.com

August 19, 2008 10:35 am

— Last season, the New Albany volleyball team had to reload a little bit.
The Bulldogs had to replace seven seniors from the 2006 state-finalist squad with young and inexperienced players. As a result, New Albany finished with a respectable 22-13 record and was the Class 4A Floyd Central Sectional runner-up.
The Bulldogs hope the 2007 campaign will help them be an even stronger team this year.
“I think that helped them a lot,” New Albany head coach John Breeding said about his players’ 2007 experiences. “Already, I see a lot of maturity. They’re very athletic and I know they’ll get better as the year goes on. The assistant coaches and I are excited about this group.”
The Bulldogs’ top player will be middle hitter Brandi Waller. The all-state candidate joins Emily Knight and Tiffany Owens as the lone seniors on the squad.
Helping Waller at the net will be outside hitters Sarah Mathews, a junior, and Alex Lilly, a sophomore. Sophomore Lauren Bratcher will be the team’s starting setter.
Breeding also expects major contributions from junior Kelsey Brumett, sophomore Candace Timberlake and freshmen Shelby Hoskins and Deandra Stinson.
“We’re young, but we’re talented,” Breeding said. “They’re hard workers, and we’re excited about these young kids.”
If the Bulldogs are to compete for the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament title this year, which will be at home, they will face some stiff competition. Among those foes are 2007 Class 4A state finalist Floyd Central and defending HHC champion Columbus East. Breeding also thinks Seymour will be a factor in the conference.
“They’re very, very good,” Breeding said about the Highlanders. “Columbus East is very good. Seymour should have a good team.”
New Albany’s nonconference slate will be tough, too. The Bulldogs will play 2A powers Providence and Brownstown and travel to Indianapolis for the Cathedral Invitational on Sept. 27, which will feature several ranked teams.
New Albany will also host three tournaments — the Bulldog Invitational on Saturday, the River City Invitational on Aug. 30 and the Falls Cities Invitational on Sept. 20.

BOYS’ SOCCER
Veteran head coach Dutch Vigar will rely on several seniors in trying to improve on a 7-5-5 record from a year ago.
The seniors include goalkeeper Zacharia Litzelswope, forward Keegan O’Connor, midfield Stephan Kossis and defenders Adam Schocke, Sheldon Albertson, Chris Newland and Alex Blum. Newland will also see some time in one of the forward spots.
Juniors Nathan Blair and Steven Dobson, sophomore Brandon McLaughlin and freshmen Nick Blackwell and Kameron Jenkins should also get some major minutes.
Vigar liked what he saw from his team in Saturday’s Floyd Central Jamboree at Prosser Field.
“We have the ability to be a good team,” he said. “Our numbers are low. Given the fact we have a low number of players on both (junior varsity) and varsity, injuries or other unexpected events could be our demise.”
Vigar expects Columbus East, Seymour and Floyd to be among the conference title contenders.
“Our schedule is always competitive. I would not say it is a rough schedule (though),” Vigar said. “Likely, Columbus East will be the strong team in the conference. I also expect Floyd Central and Seymour to have very good teams this year.”

GIRLS’ SOCCER
New head coach Julie Deuser thinks her troops have a shot at shocking some people this fall.
“I expect us to do very well this season,” Deuser said. “I think we have a strong team and we will surprise people this year. I am looking forward to a winning season and a great turnout in the sectional tournament.”
The Bulldogs’ roster contains both experience and youth. The key returning players are seniors Lexi Blackwell and Chelsea Cotner, juniors Kaitlin Robinett and Lindsay Hack and sophomores Kelsey Graeter and Kayton Cole.
A talented freshman class should help New Albany compete in the HHC and the postseason. Highlighting the rookies are forward Kameron Cole, who scored four goals in Saturday’s Floyd Jamboree. Taylor Little will aid the Bulldogs’ defense, while Taylor Briscoe will be the starting keeper.
Other freshmen who are expected to contribute are Morgan Hutchison and Michelle Kluepperberg.
Deuser thinks Floyd, Columbus East and Seymour will be the class of the HHC. As for the nonconference slate, she expects Providence to be a very formidable foe.
“The toughest games will come against Floyd Central and Providence,” Deuser said. “Both of those teams are very good and will be a good challenge for us.”

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Four seniors will lead New Albany in its quest to return to the IHSAA State Finals and repeat as both sectional and regional champions.
Stephanie Cave is the top runner in the senior class, as she finished 28th in last year’s semistate. The other seniors are Saisha Rairdon, Kim Condra and Lindsey Gall. Talented freshman Abby Ragains should give the Bulldogs some depth.
“The top three girls (Cave, Rairdon and Condra) should be amongst the top runners in the area. They are looking forward to having strong seasons together,” head coach Paul Hamilton said. “Our girls’ squad should continue on with the success they had last season. Our success will come with the maturity of our younger runners as they learn how to handle race day.”
Hamilton expects Madison, Columbus East and Floyd to be the Bulldogs’ toughest competition at the HHC meet, which they host this year.
Also, Hamilton says his girls will be tested by potential regional and semistate teams in invitationals at North Harrison, Brown County and Southport. The New Albany boys will also run in these meets.

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Hamilton welcomes back five of his top seven runners, who are all juniors.
Jason Holcomb leads the junior class after he finished in the top 10 at last year’s Crawford County Regional. The other juniors are Simon Quinkert, Pryce Ragains, Mathew Holcomb and Alan Hoon.
Sophomore Brett Wehmiller and freshmen Jared Santana, Addison Gamble and Anthony LaPorte all have a shot of cracking into the top five by season’s end.
“The boys’ squad is expected to go after the competition,” Hamilton said. “We feel they are ready to go out and put together a very strong season. They know what to expect and are ready for the challenge. We hope to make this a very special year.”
Hamilton says defending HHC champion Seymour is the team to beat. Along with his Bulldogs, he says Floyd and Bedford North Lawrence should be in the mix for the conference crown.

BOYS’ TENNIS
Head coach Bob Dusch has inherited a talented group of eight freshmen, who he thinks will make his team better as the season goes on.
Leading the freshmen is Alex Stewart, who most likely will play No. 1 singles. Classmates Luke Garmon and Chris Thomas could both see some time at No. 2 doubles.
“The eight freshmen have shown they have the ability to play,” Dusch said. “As the year goes on, I think we’ll have a competitive team.”
Seniors Joey Fitzsimmons, Stephen Kraft and Alec Kerr are expected to provide leadership. Fitzsimmons will probably play three singles, while Kraft and Kerr will make up the No. 1 doubles tandem.
Sophomore Christian Meyer will play at two singles, while junior Jeremy Juliot and sophomore Jacob Zirnheld could see some action at No. 2 doubles.
Dusch says the Bulldogs should get “a wake-up call” today when they visit HHC favorite Floyd Central. On Thursday, they will travel to another conference rival, Jennings County.
“We’re going to get our feet wet fast,” Dusch said.
Dusch also thinks Jeffersonville will give the Highlanders a run for their money in September’s HHC tournament.

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