2019 Fairfield Lady Lions Volleyball Preview
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
FAIRFIELD LADY LIONS
Head Coach: Lesley Hattan
2018 SHAC Record: 13-0
2018 Overall Record: 18-5
Coming off a perfect SHAC season a year ago, and losing three seniors from that championship team, the Fairfield Lady Lions return to the court for a ’19 season where they will have a mixture of four grade levels contributing to the success of the program.
Fairfield has three seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen listed on their roster as they begin regular-season play, and they will be the targeted team this season as they are the reigning Division II champions of the SHAC.
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Seniors this season are Grace Lawson, Taylor Lawson and Saylor Priest. Senior Allie Davis would have been on the active roster this season, but an ACL injury this summer has left her out for the entire season.
“Our summer went pretty good playing over in the Hillsboro summer league. We did pretty well, but unfortunately we lost a senior (Allie Davis) in the third week of the league as she tore her ACL,” Hattan said. “She was a leadership personalty on the floor, and she’ll be missed this season on the court. We are making adjustments to not having her. She was one of our leaders on the floor.”
Last season as a junior, Davis collected 137 kills (second on the team), 31 aces, 244 serve attempts, 410 digs, 5.2 digs per set and 205 receptions.
Gracie Lawson totaled 43 kills, 32 blocks, 10 aces, 35 digs and six assists. Taylor Lawson finished ’18 with 40 blocks, 17 aces, 49 digs, six assists and 38 kills. Priest last season finished with 33 digs and four aces.
Juniors are Layla Hattan, Jaden Smith, Morgan Sheridan and Megan Crum. The sophomore class consists of Caitlin Campbell, Emma Fouch, Braylynn Haines, Madison Bronner and Halle Hamilton. Freshmen on the team are Faith Miller, Paris Priest and Peyton Magee.
Hattan led the Lady Lions in kills last season with 254, plus she was the leader with 58 aces, totaled 145 points and had 168 receptions.
“We are a sound, fundamental team, but we are very timid,” Hattan said. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores, so there are a little timid and we are working on that. Once we get everything together we should be pretty good.
“I have high expectations for this team because they are so fundamental sound they should play at a high level. I don’t care if they are a freshman or a senior, they should play to their ability.”
Coach Hattan spoke about some of the players who will be needed for the team to have success in conference and non-conference contests.
“Saylor is a very consistent setter. Last year, she was very strong and would step into a game anytime when I needed her,” Hattan said. “She’s worked very hard in the offseason and become a consistent player. Gracie and Taylor, they are middles and they are pretty consistent at the net. They have good instincts and good at getting digs. My seniors are our best servers. They serve really hard and stay very consistent. They are really good about serving over the net and just at the top of it.
“Our junior class is solid, and Jaden has stepped in very well at the libero role and she’s working really hard figuring out her coverage. Layla is in her third year as a varsity starter and is pretty solid on the hits. When she stays focused, she can be solid.”
Hattan also talked about the sophomores and freshmen on the roster as well.
“Emma has stepped into Allie’s role since she got injured, and she’s doing a very good job fundamentally,” she said. “We need her to come out with her personality, and she needs to be more of a leader. Braylynn has really stepped up to be a solid middle. She’s worked really hard with her hitting to add that element to her game.
“Our freshmen are very solid. Faith is going to step in and be one of our setters, and she’s hitting in the front role, so she has a lot on her shoulders but is doing a really good job. Paris is hitting in the front row, and as long as she stays relaxed, she does a good job.”
This season is all about competition at a high level and playing up to their abilities.
“I expect our team to compete in the league and to have a pretty good record in the league,” Hattan said. “I expect them to come out and start working a little bit better together, and other than that, I expect them to be strong.”
Head Coach: Lesley Hattan
2018 SHAC Record: 13-0
2018 Overall Record: 18-5
Coming off a perfect SHAC season a year ago, and losing three seniors from that championship team, the Fairfield Lady Lions return to the court for a ’19 season where they will have a mixture of four grade levels contributing to the success of the program.
Fairfield has three seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen listed on their roster as they begin regular-season play, and they will be the targeted team this season as they are the reigning Division II champions of the SHAC.
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Seniors this season are Grace Lawson, Taylor Lawson and Saylor Priest. Senior Allie Davis would have been on the active roster this season, but an ACL injury this summer has left her out for the entire season.
“Our summer went pretty good playing over in the Hillsboro summer league. We did pretty well, but unfortunately we lost a senior (Allie Davis) in the third week of the league as she tore her ACL,” Hattan said. “She was a leadership personalty on the floor, and she’ll be missed this season on the court. We are making adjustments to not having her. She was one of our leaders on the floor.”
Last season as a junior, Davis collected 137 kills (second on the team), 31 aces, 244 serve attempts, 410 digs, 5.2 digs per set and 205 receptions.
Gracie Lawson totaled 43 kills, 32 blocks, 10 aces, 35 digs and six assists. Taylor Lawson finished ’18 with 40 blocks, 17 aces, 49 digs, six assists and 38 kills. Priest last season finished with 33 digs and four aces.
Juniors are Layla Hattan, Jaden Smith, Morgan Sheridan and Megan Crum. The sophomore class consists of Caitlin Campbell, Emma Fouch, Braylynn Haines, Madison Bronner and Halle Hamilton. Freshmen on the team are Faith Miller, Paris Priest and Peyton Magee.
Hattan led the Lady Lions in kills last season with 254, plus she was the leader with 58 aces, totaled 145 points and had 168 receptions.
“We are a sound, fundamental team, but we are very timid,” Hattan said. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores, so there are a little timid and we are working on that. Once we get everything together we should be pretty good.
“I have high expectations for this team because they are so fundamental sound they should play at a high level. I don’t care if they are a freshman or a senior, they should play to their ability.”
Coach Hattan spoke about some of the players who will be needed for the team to have success in conference and non-conference contests.
“Saylor is a very consistent setter. Last year, she was very strong and would step into a game anytime when I needed her,” Hattan said. “She’s worked very hard in the offseason and become a consistent player. Gracie and Taylor, they are middles and they are pretty consistent at the net. They have good instincts and good at getting digs. My seniors are our best servers. They serve really hard and stay very consistent. They are really good about serving over the net and just at the top of it.
“Our junior class is solid, and Jaden has stepped in very well at the libero role and she’s working really hard figuring out her coverage. Layla is in her third year as a varsity starter and is pretty solid on the hits. When she stays focused, she can be solid.”
Hattan also talked about the sophomores and freshmen on the roster as well.
“Emma has stepped into Allie’s role since she got injured, and she’s doing a very good job fundamentally,” she said. “We need her to come out with her personality, and she needs to be more of a leader. Braylynn has really stepped up to be a solid middle. She’s worked really hard with her hitting to add that element to her game.
“Our freshmen are very solid. Faith is going to step in and be one of our setters, and she’s hitting in the front role, so she has a lot on her shoulders but is doing a really good job. Paris is hitting in the front row, and as long as she stays relaxed, she does a good job.”
This season is all about competition at a high level and playing up to their abilities.
“I expect our team to compete in the league and to have a pretty good record in the league,” Hattan said. “I expect them to come out and start working a little bit better together, and other than that, I expect them to be strong.”