New coach, same result for Johnsonville volleyball

By: | SCNOW
Published: November 08, 2008

For the last nine years, Johnsonville volleyball making the Class A state finals was almost as predictable as the leaves changing.

The streak continues today when the Flashes make their 10th straight appearance at White Knoll High School against Landrum at 11 a.m.

But this year, there was a least a little bit of doubt at the beginning.

Longtime Flashes coach Gwen Salley, who was responsible for building the volleyball program into a juggernaut, retired after 26 years and was replaced by assistant Tracie Le Bherz.

Le Bherz, who was introduced to the sport last year under Salley, faced the daunting task of replacing six seniors and helping the Flashes continue their remarkable run.

“There was a lot of pressure, knowing what was expected in the community and knowing the kind of talent we had on this team,” Le Bherz said. “We lost a lot of seniors, and there was talk about us not making it back this year.”

But like so many times in the past, the Flashes would not be denied. A 16-4 regular season was followed by 4-0 mark in the postseason in which Johnsonville did not drop a game, winning each contest 3-0.

That included a lower state final sweep of Academic Magnet.

“Winning that was a big relief,” Le Bherz said. “But once the girls realized the state final was withing their grasp, they pulled together, which has been characteristic of this team all season.”

The Flashes were let by their two seniors, setter Morgan Owens and Latima Hannah, who plays anywhere.

They were complemented by 6-foot-4 sophomore Savannah Gaster and freshman middle blocker Keyarah Turner, both key parts of a 14-member squad that has eight players with state championship experience.

And while one streak continues, the Flashes are looking to end two other streaks. Despite making the state finals for the last decade, the Flashes have come away with just one title in 1999.

The team they defeated then is the same team that has won the last two state championships over the Flashes — Landrum.

“We haven’t really spoken about it a lot,” Le Bherz said. “I just keep telling them that even though we’re not the same team as last year, neither are they, so you never know what’s going to happen.

“A big key for us is for the girls to just keep talking to each other, and to keep encouraging each other and play hard.”

Le Bherz added that this year’s squad is very focused, and doesn’t seem quite as tense as last year’s squad.

“I’m pretty nervous though,” Le Bherz said laughing.