November 14, 2011

The Western Albemarle girls' volleyball team is on pace to make program history this season when they compete in the VHSL Group AA quarterfinals Tuesday night. With a win over Jamestown, the Warriors would punch a ticket to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

"It would mean the world to them," said first year head coach Jena McFaddin. "These seniors have been on the team since they were freshman and they've seen team after team stop...get cut short when they could've gone further."

McFaddin was named Jefferson District Coach of the Year in her inaugural season where the Warriors claimed their 11th straight crown.

On Saturday, Western finished as Region II runners up, losing to Loudoun County for the second time this season, 3-0.

"This is one of the best group of girls I've ever coached," said McFaddin about her state-qualifying squad. "They're really intense, they work hard to get where they're at, but they got a little humility on Saturday to realize it's not going to be easy. That they have to come in strong and play as a team, and play like we have in games past."

"I think that really motivated us to push ourselves at practice today," said senior libero Marin Crowder on Monday. "And, especially in our game tomorrow to just come out and play really, really well."

It would be a new thing for the program, completely new thing," added senior middle hitter Katie Rossberg. "It'd be cool because Jena's our coach and its her first year. We could go farther than we've ever gone and be really proud of it.'

Western and Jamestown will play at 7 p.m. Tuesday night in Williamsburg, Va.