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By Dan Kibler

For the Clemmons Courier

CLEMMONS — West Forsyth’s volleyball team, admittedly, flew under the radar last season.

This fall, it appears the Titans will be in the crosshairs of all of their opponents, and that’s just fine with Coach Lauren Gillon.

“We graduated three seniors who were really good leaders, but in terms of talent and size, we kept just about everybody else – and the mentality of having to work really hard,” she said.

Powered mostly by underclassmen last year and carrying few expectations, the Titans finished 18-9 overall, 10-4 in the Central Piedmont 4A, lost in the conference championship game and lasted two rounds in the state  Class 4A playoffs.

“The cool thing about last year was, we were really young; most of our kids were freshmen or sophomores,” said Gillon. “Everybody knew our young players were talented, but there was none of the  pressure. So they learned to play as a team and had a lot of fun.”

This season, the Titans are obviously in a different situation, with almost all of their leading players back.

“I kept 16 players (on varsity) this year; we have so much talent at all positions,” Gillon said. “We have six seniors this year, and I think next year it’s seven or eight, so I wanted to keep some younger players so we’ll have another group ready when these two leave.

“We definitely want to compete as long as we can. We have a great opportunity to make the most of it. It’s a short season, even if we play in the state playoffs.”

The Titans’ core is two sophomores – Aurora Rose and Hadley Lichty – junior Taylor Alderman and senior Chloe Rendell.

Rose is the youngest of three sisters to play for Gillon, an outside hitter who led the team in kills (249) and digs (233) last season.

“She is really fun to watch,” Gillon said. “Even if you don’t know volleyball, if you came into the gym, you’d enjoy watching her play. She plays with a lot of passion.”

Alderman is a middle blocker who led the team with 53 blocks last season – but she isn’t one-dimensional.

“She’s really made some moves offensively in the offseason; she really grew in her ability offensively. She’s a little more mobile, and last year, she focused on her blocking. She will have a definite place in our offense.”

Randell is an undersized middle blocker who led the team in hitting percentage and was second in blocks. In Gillon’s words, she “can jump out of the gym. She has really developed into a strong blocker and hitter.”

Lichty, primarily a setter, had 32 blocks and 101 kills last season as a freshman.

“Her brother and sister both play volleyball in college, and her mom is one of my assistants,” GIllojn said. “She’s tall and long. She’s a smart player. She put in a ton of work in the offseason, and her decision-making skills are more refined. She has the ability to block and be an offensive presence at the net.”

Senior Maddy Leeber, the Titans’ leading server last season, returns, as do junior Victoria Guthrie and sophomore Ella Lamoureux.

“Victoria is a middle blocker; she is really powerful at the net. Ella has the size – she’s 6-foot or 6-1, and she knows how to use her height and body to be a more powerful player. She will lead our offense.”

Roster:

1 – Anna Hege

2 – Maddy Leeber

3 – Ella Lamoureux

4 – Lexi Groves

5 – Chloe Randell

6 – Maria Ramirez

7 – Hailey Huff

8 – Avalon Rayne

9 – Hadley Lichty

10 – Aurora Rosa

11- Taylor Alderman

12 – Victoria Guthrie

13 – Emma Norman

15 – Brooke Cosby

16 – Brooklyn Vogler

17 – Jordan-Rai Koger

Schedule:

8/13 – North Surry, W 3-0

8/16 – Southwestern Randolph, W 3-1

8/17 – @ Carrboro, L 3-1

8/17 – @ East Chapel Hill, W 3-1

8/17 – Panther Creek, W 3-0

8/20 – Southwest Guilford, 6:30 p.m.

8/22 – @ Grimsley, 6:30 p.m.

8/27 – @ Mount Tabor, 6 p.m.

8/29 – Bishop Amat, 9 a.m.

8/29 – Timber Creek, 10:30 a.m.

8/29 – Garner, noon

8/30 – Millburn, noon

8/30 – Odyssey Charter School, 1:30 p.m.

9/3 – @ Glenn, 6:30 p.m.

9/5 – Reagan, 6:15 p.m.

9/10 – Davie, 6 p.m.

9/12 – R.J. Reynolds, 6 p.m.

9/14 – Hough, 10 a.m.

9/14 – Northwest Guilford, noon

9/17 – @ East Forsyth, 6:30 p.m.

9/19 – Mount Tabor, 6 p.m.

9/24 – @ Parkland, 6:15 p.m.

9/25 – Parkland, 6 p.m.

9/26 – Glenn, 6 p.m.

10/1 – Reagan, 6 p.m.

10/3 – @ Davie, 6:15 p.m.

10/8 – R.J. Reynolds, 6:30 p.m.

10/10 – East Forsyth, 6 p.m.