Tuscarawas Valley volleyball sweeps Sandy Valley in Division V tournament opener
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For a Tuscarawas Valley volleyball team featuring five freshmen and five seniors, the opening round of the postseason was another opportunity to show just how far the Trojans have come this season.
The Trojans opened their Division V tournament run with a convincing 3-0 sweep of Inter-Valley Conference opponent Sandy Valley on Tuesday, Oct. 20, winning 25-13, 25-9, 25-20 in the Region 20, East 1 sectional/district tournament.
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Despite the lopsided scores in the first two sets, Trojans coach Brenton Franks knew the challenges that come with postseason volleyball, particularly for a young roster experiencing the tournament atmosphere for the first time.
"I think the nerves are always a part of it in tournament," Franks said. "I think it is nerves for the seniors, too, and I think that we just kind of had an up and down season as far as just we've taken our lumps when we have freshmen."
Those growing pains have been part of the process for Tuscarawas Valley, but Franks credited his senior class with helping the younger players adjust to the pressure of postseason competition.
"They have done a really good at just calming everybody down, and our freshmen really look up to them," Franks said. "They've just done a great job of leading and setting the expectation of what tournament time comes around."
Senior Elli Wallick echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the pressure of facing Sandy Valley, an opponent the Trojans had already defeated twice during the regular season.
"It's really nice to get a sweep in our first tournament game," Wallick said. "Before the game, it's a little nervous just because we've already played this team twice, and it's hard to beat a team three times."
Wallick said the team understood the importance of maintaining its composure with its season on the line.
"We realized it's win or go home," she said. "We have to really prepare ourselves, get in the right mental space, so we don't just collapse whenever they start making runs."
Regular-season challenges prepare Trojans for postseason
Tuscarawas Valley entered the tournament with momentum after earning late-season victories over Indian Valley and Dover, two opponents Franks believes helped prepare his team for the challenges ahead.
"It's super important for us to play those games, especially with our just our youth and our seniors," he said. "Playing some games like in our league prepares us really well."
Franks pointed to the level of competition and atmosphere in those matches as valuable experiences for a team still developing its identity.
The Trojans have continued to improve throughout the season, even as their youth has occasionally led to inconsistent stretches.
"We're getting better," Franks said. "We make errors. That's just part of our mantra. We're not gonna be playing our best volleyball all the time."
That growth has been particularly evident among the team's freshmen, who have gained confidence and experience alongside a veteran senior class.
Wallick said the relationship between the two groups has helped create a positive environment throughout the season.
"It's been a lot fun," she said. "They listen to us. They like to take everything we're saying. They appreciate our criticism, and they're just great teammates. It's so fun to play with them."
After falling in last year's district championship, the Trojans are looking to make another postseason run with a different roster.
Wallick believes the team's younger players are ready for the opportunity.
"I think it's a new year, focusing on new things," Wallick said. "I think this whole season we've been trying to prove something. We have a ton of freshmen who aren't really freshmen anymore at this point of the season."
District championship remains the goal
With the opening-round victory behind them, the Trojans will turn their attention to the next stage of the Division V tournament.
Tuscarawas Valley will now host Monroe Central in its next tournament matchup on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
While the Trojans are pleased with their progress, Franks knows the biggest tests are still ahead.
"I think everybody sees that we're getting better, but we're going to see how they respond in big moments in the tournament, and that's going to determine how far we can go," he said.
For a roster that has spent much of the season learning and developing, the goal remains a district championship.
"I don't think there's a team around that has five freshmen that is going to be competing for a district title in the next couple weeks," Franks said. "So that's our goal."
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This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas Valley volleyball sweeps Sandy Valley in Division V tournament opener