BY RYAN O'CONNOR
By winning all three games in a recent match-up at Manchester Central, the Salem girls volleyball team improved its record to 7-0.
However, the fact the Blue Devils have yet to lose a game in any of those contests, starting their 2007 campaign 21-0, that has those in the stands – and on the opposite side of the net – impressed.
“(Against Salem), we played a lot faster than we do in normal games,” said Central captain Courtney Cookson, whose home team lost on Monday, Sept. 17, 25-15, 25-7 and 25-13. “I feel like we’re good, but they’re much more talented, and it takes a lot of work and effort to get to where they are.”
For Salem coach Dan Young, in his third year with the program, the respect is appreciated and used to his team’s advantage.
“We don’t really think of ourselves as defending state champions or anything like that. There’s a lot of girls on our team that haven’t done anything yet,” he said. “We know we’re probably going to get everyone’s best game because they’ve probably all got Salem circled on their schedule, but in a way that helps us because we try not to play up, down, up, down. We try to play our game the whole time.”
Now, as they near the midpoint in the season, the Blue Devils appear within reach of their second consecutive undefeated showing.
“We have a lot back from last year, so we’re definitely leaning on experience,” said Young, who, in his second season as head of the program, mentored the Blue Devils to their first state title since 1996. “The girls have been very strong. When they beat someone 25-5, they move on … And that’s something we haven’t talked about … That comes straight from Lauren and Danielle.”
Seniors Lauren Delaney, in her third year as setter for the Blue Devils, and Danielle Stoodley lead this year’s charge, having compiled a 53-3 record the past 2 1/2 campaigns.
Delaney likely will collect her 1,000th career assist on Saturday, Sept. 22, when the Blue Devils face rival Pinkerton.
Young said his team also features the two best middle hitters in the state in senior Nicole Duarte and junior Nicole Saab.