NIAGARA FALLS — Niagara-Wheatfield girls volleyball coach Brandi Trapasso has a good core of seniors and plenty of young contributors this season.

Now, she’s just looking for her team to finish.

“I think we will be good defensively and we’re going to really have to work hard on running our offense,” Trapasso said.

The N-W coach has a team led by three seniors, including Kailey Walck (setter), Ashley Campagnolo (libero) that finished 9-5 last season. 

“We need some girls to step up and be hitters and terminate the ball and not just play defense so much,” she added. 

The Falcons lost second-team all-NFL middle Jessica Crooks to graduation this spring and are hoping someone can step up their service and net game to fill the void on offense.

“We need to be more confident in our game,” Trapasso said. “They don’t want the ball to hit the floor but sometimes we just can’t put it away.” 

Trapasso hopes that killer instinct will come with more game experience, but knows that her defense is going to make the difference this season.

“Our defense is going to keep us in games more than anything,” she said. “If we’re struggling in a game I’m hoping my girls will step in and serve tough.”

Grand Island

In volleyball there is a difference between being tall and playing tall. Lucky for Vikings coach John Head, his team can do both.

“I have a lot of height coming back,” the Grand Island girls volleyball coach said. “A lot of athletic height.”

Among that height is 6-foot-1 sophomore Alex Brown, a Niagara Frontier League high jump champion. She looks to help control the net on a team that finished 7-7 last season.

Coach Head’s squad sees the departure of Niagara Gazette player of the year Chelsea Hall, one of three seniors lost to graduation. However, he hopes his height can help keep his young team competitive this year.

“The other team has to hit the ball over that block and still land inside the court and it’s that much tougher to do,” Head said. “They can also penetrate over the net on the block a little bit better than some of the other kids can.”

Grand Island will see junior hitter Kayla Pyc return as well. Pyc, a third-team all-NFL player last year, will help fill the void left by the graduated Hall.

 “Everybody has to pick up their game a little bit with her because (Hall) was so integral in the pass and the attack,” Head said, adding that “a lot of it is just hustle on defense.”

“I think with that firepower it could be a fun year,” Head added. “If we can get the ball control, some good things are going to happen.”

Lew-Port

Lancers coach Nicole Krawczyk is looking forward to another season with a core of players that finished 2-12 in NFL play last year. With second team all-league middle hitter Kristine Ripson leading the way for Lew-Port, a developing team hopes to improve in a tough Niagara Frontier League.

Sophomore Theresa Fleckenstein will see plenty of action as an outside hitter, and the Lancers are hoping some developing JV talent can come through this season. 

Niagara Catholic

Patriots head coach Jerry Zasowski loses a number of seniors from a team that finished 1-12 last year. With just three players returning from last year’s squad, Niagara Catholic will rely on their junior varsity program to fill some holes in the roster.

Junior setter Felicia Chandler looks to lead Niagara Catholic in the Monsignor Martin league, along with seniors Sierra Clark (hitter) and Leah Fasciano (libero). 

Niagara Falls did not respond.