Coming off a 6-12 season, it would be hard for the Silver Lake high volleyball team to be in a better position than they are this season.
The young Lakers team started out 5-6 last year, but injuries mounted and they finished out the year with that 6-12 record because of it, although they did finish out the year strong with a win. Regardless, the team is in a good position to do this year what they could have done last year if they were at full health.
The biggest loss for the Lakers coming into this season is their Patriot League All-Star libero Maggie Czarniak, who graduated last spring. Other than that, their starting lineup should look the exact same yet again.
Last year, outside-hitter Abigail Gallagher had a team-high 158 kills last season and was second on the team with 140 digs while setter Michelle Vaughan had 283 of the team’s 342 assists. Both of them are seniors this season.
Junior Alyssa Nelson will likely be the team’s top server yet again this season. She had a team-high 40 aces as a sophomore. Gallagher, Vaughan and fellow senior outside Lauren Hamilton, who was second on the team with 72 kills last season, also had 22 aces, so she should be a valuable server as well.
Sophomore Catherine Donovan stepped up midway through last season as a freshman on varsity player. The middle-hitter returns after leading the team with 23 blocks last season.
Defensively, the team will look to seniors Kristen Heath and Heidi Banden for leadership, both of whom played extensively last season and at opposite hitter, senior Rebecca Cullity brings valuable varsity experience to the team.
The Lakers open up their season next Monday, Sept. 11 at Marshfield High School. Their first home game is the following Friday, Sept. 15, against Plymouth South and has a 5:00 p.m. start time.