If a Laurel High varsity volleyball player wanted a fresh start, they got one this season with the addition of new head coach Stacy Sales.
Sales, who teaches physical education at Parkdale High, where she coached the junior varsity volleyball team the past two years, had applied for the vacant volleyball head coaching position at Parkdale, but didn't get it.
Sales officially got the Laurel head coaching job on Aug. 8 and two days later practice was scheduled to begin.
Most of the first two weeks of practice were dedicated to conditioning and getting familiar with the talent and there were no guarantees for any of the spots on the team.
"Since I'm new to the program all of the positions are open," said Sales after watching the first two weeks of practice. "I don't want to lead them to believe just because you played last year, you are going to play this year."
On Aug. 29 she was confident the 12 players she selected for the varsity squad will make an impact this year and beyond.
"Overall, they are looking real good," said Sales, who takes over for Jennifer Gobrail.
Gobrail had coached the varsity squad since 2013. The team is relatively young, but the four seniors should provide solid leadership.
Senior Trinity Smith will be entrenched at outside hitter.
Although she measures only 5 feet, 6 inches, she packs a powerful punch as an offensive weapon.
Senior middle hitter Jazzmin Duncan (5-10) should be a force along with veteran hitter Paige Harris (5-9).
Senior Harris and junior Lauren Simon (6-0) are versatile front line players.
"They look pretty strong and they might be interchangeable," said Sales, a 1994 Duval High graduate, who played volleyball in high school and ran track in college at George Mason University.
The fourth senior is setter Hillary Yau, a starter last season when the Spartans employed a 6-2 offense with two setters.
Sales has multiple options this year with three potential setters.
"I'm thinking we will go with a 5-1 to start, but we may do some 6-2 once I find a setter who can also be a strong hitter," Sales said.
Top defensive specialist Daniella Diaz (5-4) is the backup setter and freshman Tyenje Onyejekw (5-6) could emerge as a valuable distributor if they run a 6-2 offense.
"She can probably play anywhere on the court once she learns space awareness and control," Sales said. "She is real, real scrappy and she's always after the ball and actually she is an outstanding setter and hitter. She is young, but I think she is going to be in the rotation quite a bit,"
Sales is hoping to get contributions from juniors Sydne Jones (5-10), Brittany Ashu (5-10), Amber Francis (5-5) and Jaelyn Williams (5-5).
"The team is what I would consider young because half of the team is 11th graders, plus a ninth grader," Sales said. "I have a good number of returners that I think will really be ready next year."
As she molds this year's team into shape, the coach has already seen some things she likes.
"They are all very knowledgeable of the sport and they work hard," Sales said.
Laurel opens its regular season at home on Monday, Sept. 12 against Frederick Douglass.