With veterans Lauren Beamer, Hannah DeStefano and Olivia Haines leading the Wayne, Western Wayne is gunning for a district volleyball title.
VARDEN — Western Wayne’s girls volleyball team enjoyed another stellar season in Lackawanna League action last fall.
The Wildcats cruised to a 13-2 regular season record and trailed only unbeaten North Pocono in the final standings.
Coach Darren Thorpe’s squad also made a deep run at the District 2 tournament, advancing all the way to the Class AA title tilt before finally falling to perennial powerhouse Holy Redeemer.
And while the roster was ravaged by graduation, Thorpe believes this year's team has a talented enough nucleus to warrant a healthy dose of optimism.
“We knew coming into the season that we’d have to live with inexperience for a while,” the veteran skipper said. “Eight of the 20 girls on our roster are first year players, and the only way we’re going to improve is for them to get out there and compete.”
Western Wayne is scheduled to open up its Lackawanna League slate Sept. 2 at home versus Mid Valley. Action gets underway at 6 p.m. at the venerable Varden Garden.
Talented trio
Any discussion about this year’s Wildcat varsity squad must begin with senior superstar Lauren Beamer.
A three-year starter up front, Beamer has been a fixture on the league all-star squad and last year received all-state recognition.
Beamer is predominantly a left-side hitter who is in the process of rewriting Western Wayne’s record book. Last year, she hammered home 361 kills and moved into second place in program history. Her career total of 764 trails only Rebecca Klemovitch on the Wildcats' all-time list
“Lauren is a very hard worker,” Thorpe said. “She also plays on a very competitive travel team and is always looking to improve her game. Lauren is really embracing a leadership role by mentoring some of the younger players.”
While Beamer is undeniably Western Wayne’s marquee player, she is flanked by two more top tier performers: Hannah DeStefano and Olivia Haines.
DeStefano is a talented multi-sport athlete who’s coming off an all-state season on the softball diamond. A senior middle hitter who stands 6-1 and can jump out of the gym, DeStefano is poised for a big year at the net and on the service line.
“Hannah saw a lot of varsity time last year, but was more of a role player,” Thorpe said. “This year, she’ll be in the starting line-up every night. Hannah is embracing a larger role and all the leadership responsibilities that go along with it.”
Haines is yet another multi-sport star who also excels in track & field. Still just a junior, she’s claimed a spot in the starting line-up and appears ready for a breakout season offensively.
“Olivia is extremely athletic,” Thorpe said. “She has a very quick jump and is really competitive. Olivia works hard to improve and is her own harshest critic.“
Work in progress
Western Wayne has played two exhibition matches in preparation for the start of the Lackawanna League campaign.
The Wildcats suffered a 3-0 loss to Crestwood on Aug. 23, then looked much improved during a 3-2 setback versus Tunkhannock Aug. 25.
“I think we all understood coming in that passing and setting would be works in progress,” Thorpe said. “I think we’ve already improved in both areas.
“Tunkhannock is a good team, and we were right there with them the whole way.”
In addition to Beamer, DeStefano and Haines, sophomore setter Abby Washine and junior libero Adysen Wargo also earned high marks for their performances against Tunkhannock.
“We’re definitely getting better as a team,” Thorpe said. “I always look forward to the beginning of the season. This team can compete, but we have to get in sync offensively. Once we do, we’ll be in good shape. I think we’ll probably be much better later than we are at the start.”
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Lackawanna League girls volleyball: Western Wayne volleyball preview
Category: General Sports
