After a 3-3 start to the season, the Atholton volleyball team has picked up its play and reeled off six straight wins to enter the final week of the regular season tied for first place in the county at 8-1 and 9-3 overall.
Though the Raiders ultimately fell just short of winning the county title, they will head into the playoffs as one of the top contenders in the 3A East thanks in part to the play and leadership of senior setter Hope Kelly.
Kelly has been key to Atholton's success, as she took over as the team's main setter before the winning streak. She recently spoke with volleyball beat reporter Tim Schwartz about the Raiders' success this fall, their goals heading into the playoffs, and her biggest adjustment in becoming the setter.
With the way your team's season ended last year against River Hill, what's it been like being one of the top teams from start to finish this year?
Well, my freshman year we were 4-11, my sophomore year we were 5-12 and we lost to Hammond and I remember having my jersey in hand ready to quit the team. I was done. But then junior year — we don't know what happened but we just turned it around and everyone was good — we went 12-5. We were all hyped for River Hill, but we didn't play our best and they destroyed us. This year we played Arundel early in the season and we knew they were really good and we lost by one point. We were really angry, but I told some of our younger players that if it goes to five sets and we lose by one, it could have gone to either team. So I had to give that advice that the seniors gave me when I was a freshman or sophomore. We were really excited to beat Centennial, too, and we beat Severna Park, but we lost to Mt. Hebron, which hurt. We changed our lineup after that game to a 5-1 from a 6-2.
Coach Rob Moy mentioned that switch after your win over Wilde Lake. How much of an adjustment has it been for you, knowing you are the only setter now and Kelly Simons is thriving in the middle?