Central Mountain volleyball ready to go

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – First-year volleyball head coach Jamie Rauch was emphatic this week when she exclaimed, “This team is going to compete!”

The former LHU player said she is working with 27 players at the senior high level and there are another 30 or so at the junior high level. So far, coach Rauch said, the varsity players have “worked very hard, have played very well and prepared very well.” She said the goal is to make the district playoffs and advance in the postseason.

She said she sensed a “different vibe this season and that’s ok.” Rauch had previous coaching experience at the junior high level and had worked previously with some of this year’s varsity performers, including in AAU volleyball this past spring.

The coach said the schedule will be challenging, with foes from Districts 4, 6 and 9. They include power Philipsburg-Osceola and new foes in North Penn, Wellsboro and DuBois The schedule includes multiple Saturday contests at home and she is hoperful there will be a large turnout for those contests. These include Senior Night, Sept. 11 with Bellefonte.

The Lady Wildcat opener will be Tuesday, Sept. 7, home with Shamokin.