Darlington High School volleyball team looks to soar in 2016
The Darlington High School volleyball team is ready to open their 2015 season and fans are encouraged to come out and watch the Lady Falcons play.
Pictured from left to right, standing: Davida Scott, Bri Wilds, Alexis Ramirez, Kenyetta Free, Kiana Smith, Bree Cromer, and Raegan Fuller
Kneeling:Amanda white, Bri Pourch, and Heaven Jett
Front: Kadasha Damon
Photo by Will Isgett
By Will Isgett, Contributing Writer
Building a strong foundation for any team is the key to success and the Darlington High School volleyball program is doing just that.
Not only will the varsity play a full schedule, but the junior varsity will start up its second season and now Darlington Middle School will field a team that will play ten games.
Darlington head coach Jessica DeStefano “Coach D” is excited to have the feeder beginning and said it can only help to build the Lady Falcons program.
“Having a middle school team is huge,” DeStefano said. “We’re gonna get a lot more girls interested in the program. It’s good that they will be able to learn early and be prepared when they play on the high school level.”
Many people don’t know what goes into playing the sport of volleyball on the varsity and junior varsity levels, and DeStefano said the process is a long one.
The girls try out in May and the coach makes a summer cut; the team then works out as many as four days a week, and as early as 7 a.m. during their summer break.
“You’ve got to be dedicated to do this,” DeStefano said. “These girls work hard all summer to get to this point.”
DeStefano said 80 girls tried out to play for the 2016 team.
Going into the season, DeStafano has high hopes for the team and looks to better its 2015 finish.
“I think we can finish a lot stronger than we have in the past,” DeStafano said. “We have a lot of athletic girls, girls that are focused, it’s a whole new team, and I’m excited to see how it goes.”
Last season the team finished third in the region and made the Class 3A playoffs but lost in the first round to Gilbert.
DeStefano said that rival Hartsville should be the team to beat in the region.
She added that she encourages the public to come out and support the team.
“I’d like for the community to come out and get behind these girls,” DeStefano said. “Most of the time it’s there parents in the stands, but having community support would mean a lot to the girls.”
The team will play host to South Florence on September 3 with the JV game beginning at 5:30, with the varsity to follow.
