Sarah Cline, Paige Peterson and Kaitlin Kiernan making a difference at Mount Pisgah!!!
September 15, 2014 - What a difference a year makes for Mount Pisgah Christian’s volleyball team.
Only a year after struggling through a 9-25 season, the Lady Patriots are enjoying a breakthrough season with a 16-4 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Area 4A.
“It’s been a building process the last few years,” Mount Pisgah coach Michael Webster said. “The kids have committed and have learned and grown each and every year. Obviously, every year, you’re going to have some new kids and that continuity has been a part of what has helped us. But it’s also the development of the kids who have been in the program over the course of the last few years. So I’m excited about what it means for them and how we continue to grow the program from top to bottom.”
The Lady Patriots’ success this year has indeed been a culmination of years of developing talent from the middle school level on up.
“Our kids who have been here, at least from ninth grade on, and also kids who have been in the middle school program have really come a long way in their development,” Webster said. “I’m excited to see how those kids have grown and that we have a bunch of kids who have developed their volleyball skills at Mount Pisgah from middle school on as opposed to a bunch of kids who develop them later.”
The Lady Patriots have been invigorated by a strong corps of younger players, including two freshmen and four sophomores.
Freshman Sarah Jane Lynch has led the way, with the 6-foot-2 setter recording 176 kills, 41 assists, 18 blocks, 27 digs and 178 assists.
Sophomore outside hitter Kaitlin Kiernan (113 kills, 27 assists, 3 blocks, 71 digs, 5 assists), sophomore setter Paige Peterson (76 kills, 19 assists, 11 blocks, 55 digs, 178 assists) and sophomore libero/outside hitter Raeven Faulkner (12 assists, 192 digs) are the other key players for Pisgah.
Mount Pisgah enjoyed a strong week last week winning seven of its eight matches.
The Lady Patriots started the week with wins over St. Francis and Pinecrest Academy last Tuesday, followed by another win over St. Francis Thursday.
Mount Pisgah went on to win three of its four matches at the Pace Playdate at Pace Academy Saturday, losing to Walker before beating Our Lady of Mercy, Atlanta International and Whitefield Academy.
The Lady Patriots began this week with another loss to Walker.
Pisgah faces a couple of tough challenges Thursday in matches against state contenders Lakeside-DeKalb (Class AAAAA) and Centennial (AAAAAA).
Read more: Neighbor Newspapers - Lady Patriots enjoying breakthrough year