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'Scrappy' team finds success
By TERRY JONES CARROLLWOOD -- When Chamberlain senior Kristin Harding went to the line to serve in a match against Middleton High earlier this month, she had no idea she was about to set a volleyball record. Points began to pile up. Two. Six. Then 10. Before long, Harding's overhanded serve had scored 15 consecutive points; she won the game and broke the old Chamberlain record of 14. Not bad for eight minutes' work. "That was exciting to watch, but that has been the way things have gone this season for the Chiefs volleyball team," Chamberlain coach Betty Lambert said. "Their skills are getting better each game and each practice." Senior starters include Brittany Storch, team captain, Missy Zick and Amanda Cody. Storch plays setter, hitter, defense -- anything the team needs. She's also one the team's biggest motivators, Lambert said. "We have a pretty good team, for having only one club player (Storch)," Zick said. "Coach Lambert and her assistant coach Gary Jones have really helped us improve since the beginning of the season. As a team, we are excited going into districts and have the confidence to do well and hopefully finish at the top." Zick, the co-captain, and Cody are both solid defenders and good hitters. "Our seniors are not only motivating each other, but they are giving encouragement to the underclassmen on the team," Lambert said. "We have had some good JV players move up this season and a move in from Academy of Holy Names." Becky Leisner is the senior from Academy. Lambert and opponents recognize her as a skilled setter, she positions the ball and call the plays. Eliza Anderson and Maria Colon are the two seniors up from the JV squad. Anderson is a defensive specialist and server and Colon's multiple talents allow her to fill in with a supportive role in all positions. "This is a very scrappy team," said Lambert, who recently quit coaching girls basketball to give volleyball her full attention. "Their aggressiveness forces opponents to come after them to win. They are very good at playing off the other teams' mistakes. The two areas they are best at are defense and serving. They force the other team to beat them with a better offense." The Lady Chiefs finished their regular season this week against Hillsborough, and now they move on to the district tournament. Game one of the Class 5A, District 8 tournament is Monday, with finals on Halloween night at Alonso High. The Chiefs have had steady improvement in the three years Lambert has been coach. Lambert feels her team has a good chance to make it to the district finals on Halloween night. But she says Chamberlain is in a tough district. "The more they win, the more confidence they have," she said. "Their mental game is the tough part for them. When their self-confidence is up, they are hard to beat. But they have to believe in themselves."
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