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The Parry McCluer High School volleyball team is approaching a potential rebuilding year with the right mindset.
While the Fighting Blues may suffer through some growing pains, they’re already enjoying being together as a team – and they’re hoping those positive attitudes translate into some big strides on the court.
PM returns two starters and just five total players with varsity experience from the 2022 squad, which finished 9-17 overall and 7-5 in the Pioneer District. Last fall, the Blues reached the district semifinals and the Region 1C quarterfinals.
Gone are three players who received postseason accolades: all-district and allregion middle hitter Anna Claytor and all-region setter Sadie Mays graduated, as did senior outside hitter Gabby Thompson. Meanwhile, junior Olive King, who earned second team all-district honors in the middle a season ago, has left the team to focus on her burgeoning swimming career.
The Blues might have some big shoes to fill, but secondyear PM head coach Jessie Moala believes that their five returning players and six varsity newcomers are ready to meet that challenge.
“That’s been a transition,” Moala said of losing several key contributors. “All the girls have such great attitudes – just the way that they’ve come together as a team has been really exciting to see as a coach.”
Outside hitter Sydney Mahaffey and right-side hitter Savannah Lewis, both seniors, are the two starters back in the fold for the Blues in 2023. Junior setter Natalie Mohler and senior Tatyana Turner, who’s moved from right-side to outside hitter, also saw significant game action last year. Junior Logan Vest also returns to the varsity squad, and she’ll slide into the back row as the firstchoice libero.
That quintet understands what the PM program needs from them, and they’ve responded to the call.
“They’ve really stepped it up just as leaders,” Moala said of the five returnees. “They’re not afraid to help a lot of the younger girls out – give them feedback and just positive reinforcement. They don’t have an ego, so they’re cheering each other on.”
Several call-ups from the junior varsity squad highlight the Blues’ group of newcomers. Senior Alexys Tobias , who’s on track to graduate early from PM, was the JV captain in 2022 and will see time at outside hitter.
Junior Peira Conner and sophomore Kadence Zollman are both in the mix at middle blocker. Sophomore Allie Cullen will help the back line as a defensive specialist, while setter Keely Mahaffey and outside/middle hitter Emory Slagle aim to contribute as freshmen. “They’ve just brought this new energy,” Moala said of the Blues’ half-dozen new faces. “They’re all super excited to be there. I think they’ve helped the returners get excited again about learning new things.”
While PM might have some new blood in uniform, the other faces on the sideline will be familiar. Michelle Mahaffey, a former libero at the Division I level for Brigham Young University, is back for her second season as a varsity assistant, and this will be Carrington Balser’s third year as the junior varsity mentor.
The Blues will be tested early on – especially with a nondistrict schedule that features home-and-home series against both Class 3 power Rockbridge County and the consolidated Alleghany High School, which merged with PM’s former Pioneer rival Covington.
The district could be wide open this fall: Covington’s departure takes away a perennial contender, while PM isn’t the only team that was hit hard by graduation. The Blues open up the Pioneer slate on Sept. 12 at Narrows, which bested PM in the thirdplace matchup last year.
With so many newcomers, the Blues are focusing on internal factors like growth and progress. But the culture to build a winning program already seems to be in place.
“I’ve been around volleyball a lot of my life, and this team is just full of really amazing humans. They’re all so hardworking; they’re a joy to coach,” Moala said. “It’s just so rewarding to have them be so eager to learn. That’s a testament to their parents, their families, and this town.”
PM will kick off the season at home against RC on Tuesday. The Blues will travel to Alleghany on Thursday, Aug. 24, followed by the return match against the Wildcats in Lexington on Tuesday, Aug. 29. All three nights will start with JV action at 5:30 p.m.
