Freedom volleyball enters playoffs driven by experience
By Jaclyn Shambaugh
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Jasmine Wooten, one of eight juniors on the Patriots’ roster, has 384 kills entering the postseason.
Jasmine Wooten might be the quintessential Freedom Christian volleyball player.
The junior isn’t particularly tall, nor does she cut an intimidating figure on the court, a statement that could be made about any of her teammates on the Patriots’ undersized squad.
“We’re not very tall,” Wooten said with a laugh.
The outside hitter is, however, experienced, technically sound, versatile and tenacious deep throughout a match.
Those are all the qualities that have made the Patriots a perennial mainstay in the NCISAA playoffs since the program was launched.
This is year is no exception. The Patriots (24-5) are once again in the NCISAA 2-A bracket, and they’ll host Harrells Christian (8-10) on Tuesday to open the tournament.
A win there would pit Freedom against Coastal Christian (17-12), one of five teams to beat the Patriots
The Patriots entered the 2016 tournament seeded second and granted a double bye. Boasting a core of seniors led by East Carolina-bound Brianna Wood, the Patriots looked poised to make a run to the state final — then were upset in their first tournament match by No. 7 Asheville Christian.
The team has no seniors this year, though its eight-member junior class is experienced. When Wooten learned that Brianna Wood’s younger sister, Brittany, was transferring to Raleigh Broughton, she knew what she needed to do.
“Just step up,” she said. “That was the first place my mind went to. Lead the team.”
“Jasmine’s done it, not just against our own conference, which isn’t the strongest,” coach Moe Licardo said, “but also against some tough teams. We played Parrott, the number one team in our state, and Myrtle Beach, which finished as the state runner-up last season in South Carolina.”
Along with Wooten, several other juniors, many of whom have been playing major minutes since their freshman year, have driven the Patriots’ success.
“Three years ago, we lost a big senior class, and our jayvee had to come up and play varsity,” Licardo said. So I’ve got four juniors who have been starting since they were freshman and four who have been starting since they were sophomores. And they play club volleyball. The experience is there.”
Cheyenne Taylor has 351 digs, and Lindsey Southerland leads the team in blocks (38). Sophie Majerske and Gloria West share setting responsibilities, racking up 444 and 329, respectively.
“The Woods were such a huge aspect of our team, and looking at this year, we didn’t know if we could top last year’s team,” Wooten said. “But I do think our offense has really lit up, and that’s what we’ve improved on.”
Wooten has spearheaded the offensive front. She finished the regular season with 384 kills and was named Sandhills 2-A Conference Player of the Year, a sure sign that she accomplished her goal to be a well-rounded player this season.
“I wanted to get better at hitting, but I really wanted to be a good all-around player,” Wooten said. “I wanted Coach Moe to be able to put me where he needed me and to play my role where the team needed me.”
Licardo credits all of the players with stepping up to fill roles as necessary and finding just the right mix going into the playoffs might be enough to give Freedom the chance at a title that it missed last year.
“If we come to play, we have the speed and the experience to do it,” Licardo said. “But we have to play it out.”
Staff writer Jaclyn Shambaugh can be reached at jshambaugh@fayobserver.com or 609-0651.
By Jaclyn Shambaugh
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Jasmine Wooten, one of eight juniors on the Patriots’ roster, has 384 kills entering the postseason.
Jasmine Wooten might be the quintessential Freedom Christian volleyball player.
The junior isn’t particularly tall, nor does she cut an intimidating figure on the court, a statement that could be made about any of her teammates on the Patriots’ undersized squad.
“We’re not very tall,” Wooten said with a laugh.
The outside hitter is, however, experienced, technically sound, versatile and tenacious deep throughout a match.
Those are all the qualities that have made the Patriots a perennial mainstay in the NCISAA playoffs since the program was launched.
This is year is no exception. The Patriots (24-5) are once again in the NCISAA 2-A bracket, and they’ll host Harrells Christian (8-10) on Tuesday to open the tournament.
A win there would pit Freedom against Coastal Christian (17-12), one of five teams to beat the Patriots
The Patriots entered the 2016 tournament seeded second and granted a double bye. Boasting a core of seniors led by East Carolina-bound Brianna Wood, the Patriots looked poised to make a run to the state final — then were upset in their first tournament match by No. 7 Asheville Christian.
The team has no seniors this year, though its eight-member junior class is experienced. When Wooten learned that Brianna Wood’s younger sister, Brittany, was transferring to Raleigh Broughton, she knew what she needed to do.
“Just step up,” she said. “That was the first place my mind went to. Lead the team.”
“Jasmine’s done it, not just against our own conference, which isn’t the strongest,” coach Moe Licardo said, “but also against some tough teams. We played Parrott, the number one team in our state, and Myrtle Beach, which finished as the state runner-up last season in South Carolina.”
Along with Wooten, several other juniors, many of whom have been playing major minutes since their freshman year, have driven the Patriots’ success.
“Three years ago, we lost a big senior class, and our jayvee had to come up and play varsity,” Licardo said. So I’ve got four juniors who have been starting since they were freshman and four who have been starting since they were sophomores. And they play club volleyball. The experience is there.”
Cheyenne Taylor has 351 digs, and Lindsey Southerland leads the team in blocks (38). Sophie Majerske and Gloria West share setting responsibilities, racking up 444 and 329, respectively.
“The Woods were such a huge aspect of our team, and looking at this year, we didn’t know if we could top last year’s team,” Wooten said. “But I do think our offense has really lit up, and that’s what we’ve improved on.”
Wooten has spearheaded the offensive front. She finished the regular season with 384 kills and was named Sandhills 2-A Conference Player of the Year, a sure sign that she accomplished her goal to be a well-rounded player this season.
“I wanted to get better at hitting, but I really wanted to be a good all-around player,” Wooten said. “I wanted Coach Moe to be able to put me where he needed me and to play my role where the team needed me.”
Licardo credits all of the players with stepping up to fill roles as necessary and finding just the right mix going into the playoffs might be enough to give Freedom the chance at a title that it missed last year.
“If we come to play, we have the speed and the experience to do it,” Licardo said. “But we have to play it out.”
Staff writer Jaclyn Shambaugh can be reached at jshambaugh@fayobserver.com or 609-0651.
