' August 8, 2002 Rebuilding or reloading? KM volleyball team suffered some big losses, but still plans to make strong run in State 3A By GARY STEWART Editor of The Herald With a host of starters gone off last year’s State championship team, Kings Mountain High's second-year volley- ball coach Suzanne Grayson faces a rebuilding task. But, she fully expects her team to be one of the best in the Southwestern © Foothills Conference and another strong contender in the State 3A play- offs. Grayson is rebuilding her team around one of the State’s top players, 6-1 senior Shonda Cole, last year’s NC Volleyball Player of the Year who has already verbally committed to.play at the University of South Carolina. Cole is probably the stfongest hitter Kings Mountain has ever had, and to showcase her strength Grayson will have to develop some younger players to make good passes and sets. “Shonda’s definitely our strongest player, theres no question about that,” says Grayson. “I feel confident the girls recognize that. We want to get her the ball as much as we can. But in order for us to run our offense we've got to get good passes to the setters. What we do offensively will depend on what our passers do. If they do a good job the setters will be able to do their job.” Grayson has six other seniors in addition to Cole. They are setter Courtney Osteen, outside hitter Molly Hamrick, middle blocker Danielle Gill, defensive specialist Jordan Crisp, defensive specialist L'Tisha Bell, and middle blocker Pam Parker. Right now, Grayson is counting on Cole, Parker, Gill, Bessemer City trans- fer Baria Adams, and sophomore Heather Lappe to provide strength along the nets because Hamrick and Crisp are nursing injuries. Sophomore Blair Heffner and Osteen will be running KM’s 6-2 offense as setters, and sophomore Alex Dawson will see action as an outside hitter. Other members of the team are Ashton Teague, Jackie Jarvis, Monica Adams and Ashley McDaniel. Kings Mountain opens its season The Kings Mountain Herald Tuesday at home at 5:30 p.m. against Watauga. The Lady Mountaineers host- ed a 12-team scrimmage last Saturday and performed well, but Grayson said she saw a lot of areas that need improvement. “We weren't ready to play an oppo- nent, but we were certainly ready to practice against them and it showed us some things we need to work on,” she said. “The scrimmage enabled our younger players to get some confi- dence and gave them an opportunity to play with each other and jell with each other.” The team went through a four-hour clinic Tuesday with coaches from the University of South Carolina and got a lot of tips on fine tuning their offense and defense. Although the SWFH is one of the toughest leagues in the state (KM and Fred T. Foard have five State champi- 1998 Ford Escort 4 Dr. Sport Package, Auto, A/C, Clean Trade! 2000 Mazda 626 LX Excellent Condition, Automatic, AC, Loaded *4190/mo. 2000 Ford Ranger Supercab XLT, 4x4, V6, Auto, Loaded $253/mo. 1999 1/2 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4x4, Auto, Leather, Power Roof, 40K *346/mo. 2001 Chevrolet Cavlier 2000 Buick Regal LS 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora ogee Two to Choose From, 4 Door, Automatic, A/C 1999 Oldsmobile Alero One Owner, Lease Turn In, GARY STEWART / HERALD Shonda Cole, last year’s State Volleyball Player of the Year, returns for what should be a spectacular season with the Kings Mountain Lady Mountaineers. . onships between them), Grayson fully expects her team to be in the thick of the battle for the three State playoff berths “We've got a lot of young girls,” she said. “Right now, we're not conference champions but I think with the athletes we have, if they will continue to work then the matches will take care of themselves. We're not where we want to be yet. We have to work hard all «season. Our goal is to be better every day, so when we have to win I plan on us being ready.” Grayson encourages the public to attend the KMHS games. With Cole showcasing her talent and with a front line that averages about six feet in height, Grayson feels the Mountaineers will be an exciting team to watch. * “All of the girls have worked hard and put in a lot of hours,” she said. “Once people come out and watch vol- leyball they'll love it.” 41K, Loaded *164/mo. ds | 56/mo. fh 1999 Ford Taurus Wagon 2000 Chevrolet S10 Ext. Cab LS, One Owner, Automatic, Tilt, Cruise, 36,000 miles V6, One Owner, Low Mileage Trade *4190/mo. Only 19,000 miles, loaded, leather, beautiful $253/mo. om V8, Leather, Power Roof, Chrome Wheels, 36,000 miles *368/mo. 2001 Chevrolet Camaro 2001 Chevy Tahoe LS 4x4 V8, Rear AC, Loaded, 40K | **48 mo. lease w/$0 down, plus tax, tag & fees, | 12K per year. *199/mo. 1995 Chevy K1500 Silverado 4x4 V8, Auto, Loaded, Nice Truck Page 9B FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES VOLLEYBALL. AUGUST 13 - Watauga, 5:30; 19 - at South Point, 4:30; 21 - Country Day, 5 p.m; 23-24 - Great Eight Tournament at Guilford College (TBA); 28 - at Shelby 4:30; Aug. 29 - at Freedom 5 p.m. SEPTEMBER 5 - at Hickory, 5 p.m.; 7 - Providence and West Charlotte at Providence, 10 am.; 10 - Burns 5 p.m.; 12 - at R-S Central 5 p.m.; 17 - St. Stephens 5 p.m.; 19 - Crest 5 p-m.; 21 - Myers Park 11 a.m.; 24 - at Fred T. Foard 5 p.m. : OCTOBER 1 - Hickory 5 p.m.; 3 - at Burns 5 p.m.; 7 - at Country Day 5 p.m; 8 - R-S Central 5 p-m.; 10 - at St. Stephens 5 p-m.; 15 - at Crest 5 p.m.; 17 - Fred. T. Foard 5 p.m. 22 - First round state playoffs; 24 - District playoffs. 28 - Sectional playoffs; 29 - Regional playoffs. NOVEMBER 2 - State championship. MEN’S SOCCER : AUGUST 13 - East Rutherford; 14 - at South Point 6:30; 19 - at East Rutherford; 28 - South Point 6:30. SEPTEMBER 3 - Highland; 9 - at Shelby; 11 - Hickory; 12 - at Highland; 16 - Burns; 18 - at RS Central; 19 - Newton Conover; 23 - St. Stephens; 25 - Crest; 30 - at Fred T. Foard. OCTOBER 2 - at Newton; 7 - Hickory; 9 - at Burns; 14 - RS Central; 16 - at St. Stephens; 21 - at Crest; 23 - Fred T. Foard *Games at 6 p.m. unless otherwise indicated. GIRLS TENNIS ’ AUGUST 19 - Cherryville; 21 - at Hickory; 26 - Burns; 28 - at Delivers! Specializing In Low Mileage, 1 Owner Used Cars! = | 2000 Chevy Cavalier Z24 1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE One Owner Trade, Auto, Power Roof, Loaded *4181/mo. One Owner, Low Miles | *183/mo. 2000 Nissan Xterra RS Central. SEPTEMBER 4 - Crest; 5 - at East Gaston; 9 - at Foard; 10 - East Gaston; 16 - Hickory; 18 - at Burns; 23 - RS Central; 25 - St. Stephens; 30 - at Crest OCTOBER 2 - Foard; 7-11 - Conference tournament (TBA); 15 - Dual Team tour- nament begins; 18-19 - Regionals (TBA); 25-26 - State (TBA). CROSS COUNTRY AUGUST 27 - Crest SEPTEMBER 3 - St. Stephens; 10 - at Burns; 17 - at Crest; 24 - at St. Stephens. OCTOBER 1 - RS and Burns; 8- Pre- Conf. at RS; 15 - Conf. at RS; 26 - Regionals at KM. NOVEMBER 2 - State. *Times 5 p.m. Runners walk course at 4:30. VARSITY FOOTBALL AUGUST 30 - at East Gaston SEPTEMBER 6 - at South Point; 13 - Forestview; 20 - Shelby; 27 - ET. Foard (HC). OCTOBER 4 - at Burns; 11 - Crest; 18 - at RS Central; 25 - St. Stephens. NOVEMBER 1 - at Hickory; 8 - at North Gaston. JV FOOTBALL AUGUST 29 - East Gaston SEPTEMBER 5 - South Point; 12 - at Forestview; 19 - at Shelby; 26 - at ET. Foard. OCTOBER 4 - Burns; 10 - at Crest; 17 - RS Central; 24 - at St. Stephens; 31 - Hickory. ba $ i & Bers ris * STR V6, Auto, Loaded, Beautiful One Owner Lease Turn In! 1998 Chevrolet V6, T Tops, Loaded Tahoe LS Only 15,000 Miles 4x4, V8, 2 Tone, Loaded *288/mo. $278/mo. Li *399/mo. *All prices plus tax, tag, & DOC fee. Payment based w/$0 down; 95 48 mos @ 9%; 98, 99 & 00, 72 mos. @7.9%; 01, 84 mos. @9.0% OAC. CHEVY 7 WE'LL BE THERE’ A Exit 8, I-85/Hwy 161, Kings Mountain, NC 704-739-6011 www.diamondchevy.com 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Leather, Roof, Beautiful, One Owner Trade $253/mo. $330/mo. | mem ET EE Ee sen | YI Special ales Tax 10 Miles from ‘Gastonia or Shelby Exit 8 Diamond. \-85. Chevrolet f

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