Eric Spruill
It’s going to be a tough road, but North volleyball coach Jessica Dickerson is confident that her squad has what it takes to win a state title.
The Lady Huskies play the first match of the 2008 state tournament at Moore on Friday, when they take on inner-city rival Santa Fe, which is the No. 3-ranked squad in the state. A team North is 0-2 against on the year.
Even though North enters as the underdog against the Lady Wolves, North likes its chances in a single-elimination tournament.
“I kinda like it. I think it gives the underdog a chance to win the tournament. Before, a team that was supposed to win, could drop an early match then work its way back into the championship game. It gives every team a chance,” Dickerson said.
North has won six of its last seven matches, and seems to be coming along as a team.
“We’re executing as a team. In the beginning you’re working on skills, but later in the season you get past all of that and are able to focus on playing as a team. I think as a team we are playing really well,” Dickerson said. “We’ve had a lot of players step up this year. Torie Flynn, our middle blocker, and Sam Denning, our outside hitter, have had great years. Laura Iwuchukwu has also played a big role for us and has had really good practices.”
One thing Dickerson, and all the coaches have seen this season is parity.
“All eight teams are good this year, I think there is more parity this year than there has ever been,” Dickerson said. “Any of the eight teams can win it.”
Case in point, Union, the No. 2-ranked team in the state has losses to No. 8 Broken Arrow, No. 5 Owasso, No. 3 Santa Fe, and top-ranked Memorial.
Memorial is the only team in the tournament that has escaped the upset, with its lone 6A loss coming to the Lady Redskins, at the Union tournament.
“All of our players are excited and ready to play. I just want the team to go out and play our game,” Dickerson said. “I’m very confident that this team can potentially go out and win a state title.”
North will take on Santa Fe at noon on Friday.
