Young Wewa volleyball team preps for upcoming season

Although returning only three starters from last year’s 10-9 varsity volleyball squad, Wewahitchka head coach Nikita Andrews remains upbeat about her current players.

“We’re young, we’re inexperienced, but we have a lot of athletes, a lot of softball players, (and) a lot of really fast players,” said Andrews. “So what they lack in experience, they make up for with athleticism and drive. I think they’re going to be scrappy and fast, and it’ll be hard to put a ball down on the floor (against) them.”

“For JV, (there are) lots of personalities. Lots of new players who have never touched a volleyball before. There’s a lot of eighth graders, and I think that the returning JV players (will) step up and be good team leaders,” said Andrews. “We have a lot of progress coming in the future.”

Due to the resurfacing of the Wewa gym last week, Andrews found creative ways to practice. These included conditioning time on the school track, weight room work, and volleyball skills at Honeyville Park.

Andrews looked forward to Monday, August 8, “the first day we’ll be able to get back on the job” in the gym. “We’re looking forward to it.”
Softball coach Justin Smith will be assisting Andrews with the volleyball program this season.

Fans can view this year’s edition of Gator volleyball on Tuesday, August 16, when the varsity takes on Altha in a practice game at 5 p.m. Central.

“We’ll be able to work kinks out and shuffle kids around,” said Andrews.

By grade, here is the varsity roster:

● seniors Sadie Calareso and Katie Jones
● sophomores Jalyan Badillo and Danielle Robinson
● ninth graders Riata Peck, Emma Rustin, and Izzy Shealy
● eighth graders Lesleigh Cox, Eden Rustin, and Laila Suber.

Calareso, Jones, and Badillo are the only returning varsity players from last season.

Wewa will travel to Godby on Thursday, August 18, to open the regular season.