Volleyball, the forgotten sister of Cape sports

A strange twist to life at the shore and the popularity of beach volleyball is when practice begins for fall sports everyone is clearly visible outside, but if you want to find the girls volleyball team - there is no boys team - you have to find a way into the gym.

Last year the v-ballers played home games at Beacon Middle School, which was a friendly venue, but this season home court switches to the new Little Big House, and the biggest question to be answered is, “How many bleacher sections will be pulled out?”

A backward glance across girls sports at Cape from the last school year saw the field hockey team finish 16-1-1, losing in the final minutes of the state tournament semifinals, undefeated conference championship teams in cross country and spring track, a girls basketball team that came close to reaching the state finals and a girls lacrosse team that repeated as state champions with a perfect 18-0 record.

The volleyball team record was a very respectable 10-5 while the junior varsity had the same record. Volleyball lost some great, experienced players in Michelle Norton, Sarah Watson, Andrea Wells, Shanika Evans, Alicia Vickers, Susan VanDyke and Tricia Conlon.

Carrie Serman returns as head coach with Nick DelCampo assisting. Stan Iwamoto and Pat Niland will once again coach the junior varsity. There is size and enthusiasm in the pipeline of volleyball talent; in fact an intramural program has been approved at Beacon Middle School, and organizers are still searching for a coach.

Cape will open the season at home Friday, Sept. 10, against Delmarva Christian. Varsity begins at 5 p.m.

Cape then has five straight away games before returning home Tuesday, Sept. 28, to host Dover. Delaware high school volleyball now employs rally scoring - best of five to 25 must win by 2 except for game five which goes to 15. A point is awarded after each rally when serving or receiving.

There are other quirky rules just like in field hockey and lacrosse, but suffice it to say a team needs spikers, slammers, setters, servers and diggers.

The athletic talent and numbers are there; the girls are coming off a summer of playing together once a week and the expectations are high.