Dunwoody High Volleyball Seeking Consistency

As it struggles for consistency with five Area 6-AAAA South matches remaining, there's a silver lining for the Dunwoody High volleyball team.

All five subregion matches are at home, where Wildcats coach Amber James likes her girls' chances.

"You can't ask for anything more," the second-year coach said. "We'll have our fan support and the girls get really excited and up for subregion matches at home."

But James knows nothing will be easy against subregion opponents Tucker and Miller Grove on Tuesday and Carver, Southwest DeKalb and Lithonia on Sept. 27.

"We know what we're up against," James said. "Its great to have that home support, though."

The Wildcats (11-13) began the season by sweeping Chamblee in straight games at home, and with sweeps of Arabia Mountain and Stone Mountain there, started off 6-2. James' team has been hot and cold thereafter, though, losing five and four matches consecutively at points and winning no more than two consecutively since.

Tuesday, the Wildcats split with subregion opponents Redan and host Lakeside, beating the Raiders 25-8, 25-21 and losing to the Vikings 25-23, 25-19.

Interestingly, James felt the Lakeside match was her team's best this season, despite losing.

"(We) kept the momentum and speed of the game going, even though lakeside had some great hitters," James said.

Since being eliminated last season by South Forsyth in the area tournament, the Wildcats have sought a winning combination and to eclipse their best-ever Sweet 16 appearance in the state playoffs in 2008. Challenging has been replacing setter Shea O'Toole and middle blocker Jennifer Childers, who both graduated. Freshman Paige McKnight and sophomore Addie Cleary have stepped in for O'Toole and senior Sarah Henderson and junior Cat Morrison have replaced Childers.

All four junior varsity call-ups have caught James' eye.

"We've had to find the right mix and who's going to step up and fill those spots," the coach said," and those girls have done a pretty good job."

Dunwoody's leading players include Brianna Jones, who began the week with a DeKalb County-leading 149 kills and its fourth-most digs with 67. James is impressed not only by her spiking strength, but her sense of when not to hit so hard.

McKnight's eight assists a match are fourth best in the county. And though only a freshman, James said she's becoming one of the team's biggest leaders alongside Cleary, the more vocal sophomore setter.

"It's important to help make sure everyone's playing their best and playing hard," McKnight said. "I think we're starting to learn to play as a team."

Cleary said key is everyone doing her part.

"Not everybody's on at the same time, so everybody has to help out," she explained. "If someone's not doing well, we have to help them up. Everybody has to put in the effort."

Junior libero Hannah Wells has caught James' eye with her hustle.

"She dives and gets a hand on almost every ball," James said. "Balls you don't think she'll put back up, she does."

And though the season has been a streaky one, James senses things might be coming together just in time for the postseason.

"You can lose a few games before you get your ducks in a row and get the team to jell," she said. "It's been hard to get that consistent play with everyone together."