Traditionally in the state of Delaware’s high school volleyball competition, the power has been upstate and has served as the bench mark for the rest of the state’s teams.
But after beating Cape Henlopen High School 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 18-25, 25-11) Oct. 1 at home, the Caesar Rodney High School girls volleyball team may be making its case that it belongs with those powers.
The Riders have started the season with a 10-1 record, with those 10 wins including a four-match sweep of the Tatnall Tournament against four northern teams to open the season, as well as a victory over St. Elizabeth High School.
After getting ousted in the first round of the tournament in 2008 by Wilmington Friends, 3-0, the Riders knew they had work to do to compete with the stronger teams in Delaware, and first-year head coach Tiffany Ranger said they went right to work.
“They come out here and work hard, they come out here and practice hard every day,” Ranger said.
She added that by winning those first couple of matches against upstate teams gave the CR girls the confidence that they could play with anyone in the state, no matter where they are located.
By winning early, Ranger said, it also brought the girls closer together as is seen by how much fun they have playing with each other.
“The team bonding and team unity are great, too,” Ranger said. “The girls really care about each other and that helps a lot. They do a lot of things off the court as a team. They look out for each other. They bond and do things off the floor.”
Senior outside hitter Macy Farrell said it’s been easy to have fun since with each win her and her teammates have been getting more and more amped up for the next match.
“Each win we get we’re really excited to get the next one because we want the best record we can get,” Farrell said. “The confidence we gained from winning early allowed us to roll into our matches and play like we should win now.”
CR will get its toughest test of the year when it hosts Archmere Academy at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in a match that Ranger said should let her squad know how close it is to attaining this year’s goal.
“Our goal is to make it past the first round, so we have our eyes set on that,” she said. “With playing Archmere that will be a big hurdle for us. We’ll just keep trying to get better from there.”
Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com
UP NEXT
WHO Caesar Rodney High School (10-1) vs. Archmere Academy (3-2)
WHEN 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6
WHERE Caesar Rodney High School, 239 Old North Road, Camden
