Volleyball team celebrates best-ever season

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LaCENTER, Ky. - The Lady Bombers won their first-ever game in Region 1 volleyball play, but lost in a hard-fought semifinal match to eventual Region 1 champions Marshall County on Oct. 21. The girls finished their season at 24 wins and 14 losses, and were 22-12 in the regular season.

According to an article in the Paducah Sun, Ballard kept things close in the first set and led half the second one before the Lady Marshals (21-12) pulled away. The final score was 2-0, with sets at 25-21 and 25-15. For the Bombers, Daphne Bommarito had seven kills, Candice Draper had three kills, and Kelley Chronister had three aces. Paige Citarella had eight assists, and also received recognition for making the All Region 1 team.

"We lost to last year's regional champions and there is no shame there," head coach Adam Solomon was quoted as saying. "We put 21 points on the board in the first game, and we didn't beat ourselves."

Solomon later continued, "This was the first time Ballard has played Marshall since I've been head coach, and I was really pleased that we did not come out intimated. The girls showed no fear and came out very strong. I look forward to playing Marshall in the future."

The night before, the girls had defeated Carlisle County 25-7 and 25-18 in the opening game of regional play, held at Community Christian Academy (CCA) in Paducah. Serving first for the Bombers, Kelley Chronister served-up a pair of aces and several shots the Comets could not handle. Chronister continued to serve as Ballard scored the first 12 points of the set. "I was impressed not only at our serves, but also at her phenomenal passing," Solomon said. "Those first passes fueled our offense." Power hitter Daphne Bommarito had nine kills, while Paige Citarella made five assists. Candice Draper made two aces, while Chronister totaled five aces.

This is only the second time in the school's history that the volleyball team has finished as district runner-up and earned a spot in the Region 1 tournament. Although this is not the first Ballard team to go to Regionals, it is the first time under the new district alignment, which changed in 2005. Prior to that, Ballard was seeded in District 1.

In the District 3 volleyball tournament on Oct. 12, also hosted by CCA, the Lady Bombers defeated Graves County 25-20 and 25-21. In the championship game the next night, the girls lost a very tight match against CCA. Despite losing 0-2 to CCA, both sets went back and forth, with both teams taking the lead during the match. CCA won both sets 25-21. Juniors Daphne Bommarito and Paige Citarella received recognition for making the All District 3 team.

This is the first time in Bomber volleyball history that the team has had a winning season, and the first-ever 20-win season, and all under a tougher schedule, Solomon noted. Solomon served as assistant coach in 2006, and took over the team in 2007. Since then, the Lady Bombers have continued to win more regular-season games and inch closer to a District 3 championship.

The Lady Bombers also finished third in the Region 1 All A Tournament and won their first-ever varsity tournament, the Heath Biokentics Classic, with an undefeated run in that event in September.

Junior varsity and freshman teams finished strong as well. Both teams had winning seasons: JV with a record of 12 wins and nine losses, and the newly-created freshman team with 14 wins and four losses. "It's a great feeling to know that our success in the past two or three years at the varsity level won't be short-lived," Solomon said. "I see all the ingredients for a great team in our younger players: Talent, potential, teamwork and athleticism. They work hard, and a few have emerged as leaders at a very young age. That is something you just can't teach."

He continued, "Our teams have vastly improved in the past three years, and especially this year. This teams has learned so much this year and has come a long way. On top of that, I am thrilled that publicity and interest in the program has grown. I can't wait ‘til next season!"

 

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Candice Draper was the sole senior on this year's successful varsity volleyball team. The daughter of Tracy and Tracey Draper of  Lovelaceville is shown here being honored on Senior Night. She has played volleyball for four years, serving as team captain for three. Draper also has played softball for five years, basketball for four, and is a member of Future Business Leaders and Health Occupations Students of America, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Beta Club. She plans to major in occupational therapy, and currently maintains a 4.0 high-school grade point average.

Daphne Bommarito skying in the Ballard victory over Carlisle County in the Region 1 volleyball tournament. She had nine kills in the Oct. 20 game. She and Paige Citarella received recognition for making the All District 3 team on Oct. 13.

Paige Citarella also was named to the All 1^st Region Tournament Team this year.

(Photos courtesy of Karen Tilford)