East Union Volleyball

Dennis Clayton | Gazette Sports Editor 2022 East Union Lady Urchins Volleyball: Front row left - Sydney Sanford, Emma Akins, Olivia Elder, Laura Cobb. Middle row left - Caroline Sherwood, Madee Dugger, Jenni Bullard, Lucy Haynes, Ali Cooper, Katie Sherwood, Claire Hill. Back row left - Chloe Greenhill, Emma Adams, Eliza Whitenton, Jessica Henderson, Marly Wanner, Emily Herod, Roxie Roberson. Not pictured Emma Boater.

lady urcHinS Hope to Build on previouS SucceSS

East Union had a successful season in 2021 as they went 19-6 and reached the second round of the 2A playoffs before losing a hard-fought match to Walnut by a 3-1 count.

Graduation hit the Lady Urchins hard as several key players are no longer on campus.

“We will have lots of new faces, graduated four starters last season< East Union coach Josh Blythe said.

One key player that does return for the Lady Urchins is Emma Akins, who has been a key fixture for the previous three years for East Union who has a great deal of club experience as well.

“The team will look to and respond to Emma Akins,” Blythe said of his floor leader.

Blythe shared other players that he will call upon to make contributions both defensively and on offense.

“Defensively Olivia Elder and Sydney Stanford will need to carry us in the DS and Libero spots,” he said. “Offensively Eliza Whitenton, Jessica Henderson, Laura Cobb, Jenni Bullock, Katie Sherwood, Ali Cooper, and Emma Akins will all have equal opportunities to establish themselves.”

A couple of newcomers that Blythe hopes will make major waves for the Lady Urchins are Ali Cooper and Laura Cobb.

East Union will again play a highly competitive non-division slate of matches with their county rivals in the Union County tournament plus 5A Saltillo and Blythe looks forward to that meeting.

“Saltillo is coming over, they are usually really athletic and bring a big rowdy crowd.”

East Union will again compete in Division 1-2A with 2021 2A state champion Belmont and Baldwyn

Blythe assessed his view of his youthful team while describing their strengths and weaknesses.

“Weakness is, we are inexperienced group. Strength will be in our setters.”

Success for the Lady Urchins lies in their ability to learn to play with each other and really defend according to Blythe.