Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Mountain Ridge beach volleyball sets its sights on the playoffs
Posted
Compiled by Richard Smith, Independent Newsmedia
Spring high school sports have started at Mountain Ridge High School.
Most of the school’s team sports remain in the 6A conference. Some sports, like tennis and track and field, retain the old division system and Mountain Ridge is in Division I for those sports.
West Valley Preps and the Glendale Independent asked the school’s coaches about their teams. Here are their responses.
Coach for both teams: Christina Jensen (Second year)
2019 Record: 4-7
Section: Division I, Section II
Top returning player? Alissa Uhlenhop
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? Motivation. We were very close to qualifying for state last season and being that close, but not making it, has stuck with these girls in the off season. Several girls have started playing beach volleyball year round and we have been focused on pre-season conditioning and mental focus for several months. There is an overwhelming drive to put in the hard work, win big matches and make an impact this year as a team.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? There has been a lot of work done by these young ladies in the off season to prepare for a strong beach season.
Who are your team leaders? We have a very strong team returning this season. Alissa Uhlenhop (junior)is returning as a strong team leader this year. Alissa and Jenna Jones who went to state to compete as an individual team last year. It was our first time sending an individual team to state competition. She is looking forward to representing us at state on an individual team again this season.
We have several other strong returning players, Madison Girnius, Alyssa Schneider, Erryn Kozia, Devynn Sukung and Taylor Hilditch.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad who could make an impact? We have a freshman, Gracie Birchfield, and sophomore, Azlynn Vasquez, who will be making a huge impact on our team this season. They both have a great background in beach volleyball and have brought some much needed fire and energy into the sand.
What are the primary goals for this year’s team? Our team goal is to make it to state playoffs as a team. We have a strong squad this season and I have confidence that we will make this happen. We would like to send an individual team to State again and advance further into the playoffs this year.
