North volleyball winning with youth
By CHUCK BALLARO
It seems like no matter how experienced players she has, North Fort Myers High School volleyball coach Nancy Eskay is able to put competitive and successful teams on the court.
Despite having eight players who are either freshmen or sophomores, the Red Knights have put together another successful season, going 10-4 heading into the stretch run and fighting Lemon Bay for second place in District 6A-10. They play each other this week.
The younger players have been getting lots of experience in big matches, Eskay said. That’s where the senior leadership comes in, and the Knights have three real good ones in Bailey Harris, Madison Prusak and Julie Sherer.
“It’s a little bit of a rebuilding year, but my three seniors are the backbone of the team and they’ve brought the younger ones in,” Eskay said.
Freshmen like Kayleigh Edwards and Sydney Myers have made huge contributions, while Erin Post has been one of the top sophomores.
It hasn’t been easy. After starting the season 7-1, North lost three of its next four, including its only district defeat to top-seeded Charlotte.
On Tuesday, on the road against Port Charlotte, the Red Knights looked to get back on track.
The last-place Pirates hit the Red Knights by winning the first game and leading late into the second.
That’s when the Knights rallied to win and took the momentum en route to an 18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-12 victory.
Prusak had 22 kills and 11 digs, the latter matching Harris. Edwards replaced setter senior Sherer, who was out with a hand injury, and contributed 37 assists.
“They came out pretty fired up and played us tough in the beginning, and we were a little off kilter,” Eskay said. “We had a freshman setter so it was a little different. Once we adjusted we did very well.”
Edwards said she was nervous playing her first big game, especially when the team fell behind. But the seniors kept things positive for her.
“I kind of shook it off as the game went on. My team really helped me out. I’m a freshman so I’m not really used to this,” Edwards said. “I know I’ll do fine, but I get really nervous before every game.”
North continued the momentum Thursday, easily winning in straight sets over Island Coast.
For Eskay, it’s all about playing their game and not worrying about hostile environments on the road, or calls from the officials that don’t go their way and anything they can’t control.
“We work simply on controlling what we can control and blocking out everything else around us,” Eskay said. “It’s about being disciplined and playing our game.”