Ithaca volleyball enjoys turnaround season

There are so many intriguing storylines this season when it comes to volleyball in Tompkins County. Lansing is looking to successfully defend its Class B state championship, as is Trumansburg with their Section IV Class C title. Newfield is looking to make it to back-to-back Class D championship appearances. Then there’s Ithaca High School, who are putting together a vastly improved campaign.

After going 4-7 last year, the Little Red have flown out of the gates by winning eight of their first nine matches. For head coach Sydney Trumble, their success boils down to how and when they execute their game plan.

“Last year we relied a lot on talent and chemistry,” Trumble said. “This year, we do scouting. We understand what we’re matched up against, and we’re able to execute that. We’re able to adjust the blocks. We’re able to adjust where our coverage is going to be, where we want to tip so offensively and defensively we’re able to execute.”

When looking at their results, one thing that jumps off the page is how dominant they’ve been at face value. Of their eight wins so far (as of October 9), seven of them have been sweeps while the other victory came in four sets. But that doesn’t mean they’ve all been walks in the park.

“Every night, we always fight for a win,” Trumble said. “Nothing has come easily to us. We’re really blessed in this area to have strong volleyball, whether it’s bigger schools or smaller schools. Every win for us is a hard-fought win. As much as we like to say, ‘Oh, it’s a sweep’ and things like that, it is a fight every night and nothing is for granted.”

While the Little Red struggled last season with a younger team, there were some positives that emerged at the end of the campaign. After losing their first seven matches, they rattled off four straight wins to conclude things on a high note. That momentum has clearly carried over into 2024.

“Last season, we had to spend a lot of time on team chemistry, understanding what it was like to transition from JV to varsity, because that is a big jump,” Trumble said. “And then we started finding our groove at the end of the season because we started to build confidence as a team. This year, we walked in more confident, and that’s really because we had so many returners that we didn’t feel like there were that big of adjustments for us. I think confidence is a key factor but then also really understanding the game of volleyball and saying, ‘Oh, this is why we have to adjust the block or coverage.’’

Another area of improvement that Trumble pointed to is their leadership, and a shining example of that is with Ade Miller. The senior has flourished both as a middle hitter and as a team captain in her third year of varsity volleyball.

“She does try to take on some of the younger players, give them advice and kind of bring them under her wing,” Trumble said. “It helps her understand how much she understands about volleyball and how much she knows. It’s almost like she has a little test every day in practice to be able to say, ‘Okay, I know what I’m doing now. I can help guide my younger players.’”

Miller is joined in attack by fellow senior Ella Schneider. The outside hitter has been a consistent threat for the Little Red all season long.

“I think her confidence as a player has grown tremendously,” Trumble said. “She’s a player that gives it her all when she’s on the court—whether it’s in practice, whether it’s in games—and she’s really able to understand that she wants 110% but she’s not able to win it by herself, and so being able to bring her teammates with her and lead by example is a big thing that she does.”

Arguably the most challenging position in volleyball is the libero, and junior Ava Keating has thrived in commanding the back row.

“She’s a great kid and she understands what she’s trying to accomplish,” Trumble said. “She asks questions, but most importantly she executes what I give her, and she always has a desire and a strive to get better.”

As the regular season winds down, the Little Red hope to carry their strong run of form into the postseason in the hopes of bringing home a STAC and/or sectional title.

“The biggest thing is understanding that no matter what happens, we’re a good volleyball team, but we have to control the six people on our side of the court in order to be successful,” Trumble said. “If we start worrying about the other side too much or what’s happening in the stands, we won’t be successful. So [it’s] making sure that the 13 people in the jersey [and] the six people on the court at that given time know what the objective is and what we’re trying to accomplish, and it’s just staying disciplined and staying focused.”