Purple Eagles have new volleyball coach

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 20 August 2017 at 8:43 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – New Albion varsity volleyball Coach Melody Beecher meets here with the Purple Eagles veteran trio of Caitlyn Snook, Haley Smith and Isabella Gibbs.

Facing a bit of a rebuilding task, the Albion varsity volleyball squad is prepping for the upcoming season under new Coach Melody Beecher.

Senior Caitlyn Snook, along with juniors Haley Smith and Isabella Gibbs, return the lead the way for Albion. Junior Sierra Newton, who was a regular last year, is out with an injury.

“We are rebuilding so we are looking for some of our young kids to step up,” said Beecher. “We plan on teaching a lot this year. It will be a building process but the kids are excited. They are willing, excited and they want to learn.”

The Purple Eagles key losses to graduation include first team Niagara-Orleans All-League honorees Chanyce Powell and Emilie Barleben.

Albion, which went 7-3 in N-O action last year, is slated to host non league matches against Attica (August 28) and Alexander (September 1) before beginning the league campaign at Roy-Hart on September 6.

Schedule
August: 28 – Attica, 6:30 p.m.

September: 1 – Alexander, 6:30 p.m., 6 – at Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m., 8 – Byron-Bergen, 6:30 p.m., 9 – Albion Tournament, 8 a.m., 12 – at Wilson, 6:30 p.m., 14 – Newfane, 6:30 p.m., 16 – at Starpoint Tournament, 8 a.m., 18 – Medina, 6:30 p.m., 21 – Akron, 6:30 p.m., 28 – Roy-Hart, 6:30 p.m., 30 – at Buffalo Niagara Court Varsity Tournament.

October: 2 – Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m., 4 – Wilson, 6:30 p.m., 6 – at Newfane, 6:30 p.m., 10 – at Alexander, 6:30 p.m., 12 – at Medina, 6:30 p.m., 17 – at Akron 6:30 p.m., 20 – at Batavia, 6 p.m.