UHS Volleyball Rallying for Regionals

The Urbana Tigers varsity volleyball team has started off the season extremely well. Starting off 10-2 (1-1 in the Big Twelve), the tigers are looking to have an outbreak season. The tigers have put in a lot of work on the off-season and it is looking to play out the way they had hoped to. The lady tigers spent their summer off-season by conditioning three times a week and having a summer league, where they played two games every Monday. They also went to a team camp in Milikan, Illinois where they played 10 games and won every game.

Junior Lexi Johnson says, “The hard work we all put in over the off-season was 100 percent worth it, you can really tell how all the practice has paid off.” Urbana has some big shoes to fill, losing last years star players Molly Facer who plays for the University of Milikin and Mariah Burgess who is now playing for the University of Rhode Island. Mariah led the team in blocks and kills last year while Molly led the team in assists, both taking them to a regional championship game.

Urbana placed first in a tournament in Eureka, and third in a tournament in Mahomet. “It is extremely had to lose such a strong player like Mariah from our team,” said Senior Robin Hargrave. “The team has really come together and made up for that loss. Our offense is still as aggressive as ever and our defense has improved from last year. Kiara Shelby has stepped up in Mariah’s place for the kills and McKenzie White currently leads the team in blocks.

The team is overall looking as good if not better then last year. They are all feeling confident with their start and are looking to carry that momentum into the rest of the seasons. The ladies are striving for a Big Twelve championship and a repeat appearance to the Regional championship, with a slight change in the from last year…a win