ALHS Volleyball Enjoying Dream Season

To say it’s been a dream season thus far for the volleyball team, might be an understatement.

Thus far, after a win over North Olmsted on Thursday night, the girls are 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Southwestern Conference.

But that isn't the icing on the cake. For their efforts, which include wins over solid programs such as Amherst, and defending SWC co-champions Olmsted Falls, not to mention taking home the team title in the Rocky River tournament last weekend, the Shoregals are just one of three programs from Northeast Ohio (Magnificat and North Royalton) to have cracked the states top rankings, taking home the 13th slot in the latest poll.

"We are having a good season so far," middle hitter Katie Mihalik said. ”So far we are working really well together and I think the difference this year is definitely the attitude. We all are positive, we work hard together as a team in practice and I think its really showing in the games."

What makes this team unique though, is not its record, but the mix of athletes ranging from sophomores to seniors.

Including Mihalik, the varsity squad has two sophomores, (also Lauren Bakaitis); five juniors (Whitney Craigo, Christine Bohan, Isabelle Wagner, Taylor Leube and Kathleen Durisek) and five seniors (Danielle Donelan, Erin Kearns, Heather Smith, Rachel Janicek and Sarah Alflen).

So how has third year coach coach Dan Berkheimer, who coached previously at Westlake transformed this unit? He says its not coaching, but falls upon his girls, and the chemistry they have among each other.

"I really think we have a lot of good team chemistry this year," Berkheimer said. "They really work hard and push each other. I think also the expectations are pretty high, and the skill level as a team is very high."

Team has height

There is another advantage that Avon Lake has: height. Two players, Craigo and Mihalik, are six feet tall. Three others, Donelan, Bohan and Wagner, are 5-10 or bigger, while Bakaitis, the setter, is 5-foot-9.

"We really do have some good height," Berkheimer said. "And the nice thing is, its not just one rotation, it's on all six rotations."

Leading the way for the Shoregals is Heather Smith. The team's Libero, she is a transfer from Christian Community School and has done wonders on the court.

"I just think she is awesome," Berkheimer said. "She's like that one piece of the puzzle that we needed this year to control the ball.

Craigo, the team setter has also played a big role in where the team stands.

"She is 6-foot tall as a setter, and my first year here at the school last year, she played middle for me," Berkheimer said. "Last year she split the season at setting and middle and then I guess she just got a passion for it when she started to play Junior Olympic (JO), and she’s got a passion for it."

Berkheimer says another factor is the JO programs, which all the starters play in as soon as the season is over.

"It really is nice;  they all got so much more experience during the JO season," he said. "The hardest part for me is being able to keep tabs on them."

For the first time in recent memory, the Shoregals have a big target on their backs. Sometimes responding to something like that is tough. A prime example was their resiliency against perennial SWC powerhouse Falls the other night.  After winning the first two 25-23, 25-19, they lost the second game 20-25. In the fourth match, they were down 9-2 and appeared rattled. After a timeout, the came back and won 25-17.

"I have said that many times, people are going to be coming after us," Berkheimer said. "But every time they respond. In the game against Falls, I called a timeout and told the girls, if you want to be a champion you have to play like a champion and then all of a sudden they made a run and we won, and that character trait is something you cannot teach, that comes over the years with the kids and parents."

Shoregals' teamwork plays a part

While that all sounds fine and dandy, what really stands out about this year's team is the bond they share. There is not one player looking for headlines, the bottom line with the 2011 Shoregals is a team that sticks together.

"Nobody here is asking to make the headlines," Berkheimer said. "Nobody is asking what my stats are. I haven't shown them their stats all season. They take it one game at a time and they all work together instead of saying me, me, and me."

And for those thinking this might be a flash in the pan season for the Shoregals, think again. Yes there are five seniors, but many of the players have started since their sophomore and freshman years and there are plenty of guns in the arsenal to keep the program rising among the elite.

"This is my third year here, and Isabelle (Wagner) and Whitney (Craigo), they started for me as freshman, those guys are juniors, so they know the system, they know what my expectations are as well," Berkheimer said. " And Katie (Mihalik) and Lauren (Bakaitis) they started for me last year as freshman and are only sophomores, so they are young group overall with a lot of varsity experience.

We are going to graduate five seniors, but the majority of my hitters and my setter are coming back so that is really important."