Sports

h.s. girls volleyballVan rose

You can’t blame GAR coach Ebon Cour for feeling as if she was on top of the world after the Grenadiers’ 3-0 victory over Meyers on Monday afternoon. It not only marked the team’s first win under the third-year coach, it also reaffirmed that the program is finally on the right track.

“I’m excited for the girls,” Cour said. “They have worked very hard and they really deserve it.”

Some of the players would tell you it’s the other way around.

When Cour took over the Grenadiers volleyball program two years ago at age 21, it was in shambles. In her first season, Cour barely had enough players to field a team and wasn’t competitive while posting an 0-18 record.

Perhaps more frustrating than the losing was that the new coach felt like a complete stranger at GAR – a school that was an archrival when she played at Coughlin.

“The whole first season was pretty rough,” said Cour. “I was going to quit. I don’t mean any disrespect for anybody, but I don’t feel I was given a fair chance. There was no warm welcome. The players and I butted heads.”

According to Cour, the players resented her because they were used to having their old coaches.

“I wound up getting into a shouting match with one of the players who was giving me the hardest time,” Cour said. “At the time, I had an assistant coach, but she quit. She’s the only one who kept me there.”

However, even through the worst of times, Cour stuck it out. She says the troublemakers have graduated, and that now the team consists entirely of girls that she molded.

“I love my team this year,” she said. “There’s no fighting and everybody helps everybody on the court. The last two years we never hung with Hazleton or Lake-Lehman. Yesterday was a big step.”

Senior hitter Lydia Naperkowski said Cour has gained the full respect of every player on this year’s squad.

“She yells at us and tells us what we do wrong,” she said. “We all get mad at her when she makes us run laps, but it benefits us and just brings her closer.”

That’s why the team presented Cour with an autographed volleyball after beating Meyers, Naperkowski said.

“Everybody likes Ebon because she puts her heart and soul into the game. Volleyball is her whole life. She’s like a big sister to us.”

Battle of the titans

Delaware Valley (5-0) plays host to Holy Redeemer (5-0) today in an early-season showdown between the two best teams in the Wyoming Valley Conference. Holy Redeemer captured the District 2 Class 2A title last season, while the Warriors were the 3A district champions.

“Rumor has it we’re going to hang with them,” Delaware Valley coach Bridget Crawford said. “I think our key to beating them is not letting them get too far ahead of us, and having our hitters perform to their ability.”

The Warriors have three outstanding hitters – Christine Marks, Emily Dorko and Brittany DeFosse. The Royals have a front line that averages 6-foot-1, including Monica Wignot, Brianna Dugas and Erika Krakosky.

“We had a great practice (Tuesday), and our kids are ready,” Crawford said. “It will be a great matchup.”

Football field trip

Several members of the Tunkhannock volleyball team took in the Penn State-Buffalo football game last Saturday at Beaver Stadium.

“The girls sell concessions a few times per year as a fundraiser for the team and were able to enjoy some of the game while working,” said coach Mick Goodwin. “Kirby Thomas’ family hosted a small tailgate afterward, allowing the kids and parents some R&R before the three-hour drive home.”