The West Potomac volleyball team has the size a successful program covets. Seven players are listed at taller than 5 feet 9, including five listed at 6 foot or taller. What the Wolverines don’t have are volleyball veterans — which showed during an Oct. 4 match at Lake Braddock.
Already missing their best player, senior middle blocker Angela Robinson, due to illness, the Wolverines experienced several communication breakdowns during a 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-18) loss to the Bruins. Several Lake Braddock attacks fell between multiple West Potomac players who appeared unsure of whether to go for the ball. The Wolverines showed hustle on occasion, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a Lake Braddock team ranked No. 10 in the Northern Region.
"We’ve got, I’d say for the most part, a pretty tall team," West Potomac head coach Rebecca Waters said. "We’re out-experienced. We’ve got a young team and even the older ones haven’t played that long. We just don’t have the years of experience."
Of the 17 players listed on West Potomac’s roster, only six are seniors. The Wolverines’ tallest player is 6-foot-2 freshman Audrey Anderson. To make up for their lack of experience, Waters said the Wolverines modify their play depending on weaknesses.
"They get a crash course in volleyball every day," the coach said. "They get the accelerated learning in practice."
When she’s present, the 6-foot Robinson is West Potomac’s greatest threat.
"Angela is a monster," Waters said. "She is a pretty skilled middle — a very good blocker and a very good hitter. She’s got the height, she’s got the speed, she just has natural volleyball ability."
Junior outside hitter Morgan Maniglia (5-8) is also a standout.
"She has all-around skills and she’s aggressive," Waters said. "She’ll go for the ball and she’ll take chances. She doesn’t shy away from playing things."
Senior Caitlin Corrigan (5-10), juniors Cheryl Barnes (6-0) and Lara Chilton (6-0) and sophomores Shannon Williams Hamer and Hannah Werner also stand 5-10 or taller.
Chilton led West Potomac with four kills against Lake Braddock. Maniglia, Paige Atkins and Samantha Clifford each had two.
The loss dropped West Potomac to 3-6. The Wolverines have defeated Wakefield, Falls Church and rival Mount Vernon.
West Potomac will host Hayfield at 7:15 p.m. on Oct. 7.