On the court

There is no replacement for experience on the biggest stage. That is what a handful of Homewood volleyball players already have, with the hope that the whole team will gain it soon.

The 2016 version of the Lady Patriots’ varsity squad includes five student-athletes who also have seen action on the varsity basketball team, a program that has reached the state championship each of the last two years, winning it in 2015.

Homewood’s volleyball coach, Carol Chesnutt, said she believes that certainly helps.

“Absolutely it transfers,” she said. “I think the experiences being on the big stage and understanding what it’s all about is definitely an asset to have.”

Kassidy Crawford, Kalia Cunningham, Lia Roberson, Venice Sanders and Tori Webb all play both sports. Sanders will be a strong senior leader, according to Chesnutt. Cunningham will be the team’s setter. Webb finds herself on the varsity squad after returning to the sport last year.

Sanders, Josie Graf and Emma Burnett are the three seniors for the Lady Patriots, and they are at the top of what Chesnutt considers a competitive group of student-athletes.

“The one thing about this group, they’re very competitive. They want to win. They want to be successful,” she said.

Taylor Gurram has a chance to be a powerful force on the right side of the Lady Patriots’ attack, standing at 6-foot-2. Sophomore Alejandra Loo has the potential to fill a couple different roles on the court, according to Chesnutt. Homewood also has to replace libero Virginia Estes, who signed with Goucher College. Candidates to take her spot are Samantha Nichols, Erin Beasley and Michia Robinson.

Chesnutt enters the second year of her return to coaching after 33 years of coaching and a four-year respite. She said she sees the potential for the Lady Patriots to put together a successful season after last season ended in the Class 6A Super Regionals.

In order to have that success, the Lady Patriots have a set of goals to achieve along the way. The first goal is to win home matches. The second is to win the area. 

Another objective for Homewood is the ability to advance deep into the tournaments it will participate in throughout the season. The Lady Patriots will play in tournaments at Bayside Academy, Hoover and Briarwood and will host the Blalock Memorial Tournament.

“I made the season a little bit tougher this year,” Chesnutt said. “Our goal is to get out of pool play. [Hopefully] we can play competitively every time we play.”

Each of those goals further prepares the team for a deep postseason run. 

“If we’re progressing and we’re competing, by the time we get to our tournament time, we should be in pretty good shape to advance, if we’ve done those mini goals,” Chesnutt said.

Chesnutt said she is also proud of the fact that her program has qualified for the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

The Lady Patriots open the 2016 campaign at home on Aug. 25 with a match against Walker.