Warrior Volleyball Battles Hayfork Timberjacks

Maggie Jarnaghan kept her eyes on the ball as she got ready to strike. She is used to playing the back row, but moved up to the front row for the games against the Hayfork Timberjacks on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012. / Photo by Kristan Korns, Two Rivers Tribune.

By KRISTAN KORNS, Two Rivers Tribune
Hoopa High School’s varsity volleyball team has just as many sophomores this season as the junior varsity team, two.

For the JV Hoopa Warriors, this means they’re coming into the season with a team of mostly freshmen.

Assistant Coach Naomi Ames said the game on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, against the Hayfork Timberjacks was the first high school game for most of the girls on the team.
Coach Earlene Mattz said “They’re a young team, but they’re improving.”

The varsity team, on the other hand, is packed with experienced players.

The Warriors scored on 13 of Senior Priscilla Masten’s serves on Tuesday, and eight were aces.

Coach Vicki Kurtz said “She’s just a really powerful server and very well-versed in the game.”

The team ran a 6-2 offense, where the two setters move to the back row to set.

“We have specialized back row players and specialized front row players,” Kurtz said. “It’s all about strategy – about where you put your best hitters and your best passers.”

Seniors weren’t the only ones showing off their experience on the court Tuesday. Sophomore Stella Jarnaghan played her first season on the varsity team when she was a freshman. She was a starter Tuesday, in the first game of this season.

Jarnaghan said that it would be cool if she could play in college some day. For now, she would like to see more faces in the stands.

“Come support us,” Jarnaghan said.

Final Score: Hayfork def. Hoopa 14-25, 25-9, 25-11, 25-17.

The next game will be Tuesday, Sept. 11, against the Hayfork Timberjacks, at Hayfork. The next home game will be Tuesday, Oct. 2, against the South Fork Bulldogs.