Hawken finished the 2017 season with a 16-7 record overall and an 11-3 record in the Chagrin Valley Conference’s Valley Division.
The Hawks return four starters and five other letter winners from that squad. They’ll need that experience as they bumped up to the Chagrin Division for the 2018 campaign.
“A veteran team consisting of all seniors and a strong junior class, this varsity team has the potential to really make some waves if the chemistry really ignites,” said third-year head coach Patty Hace. “Moving up to the larger CVC division will certainly pose a challenge to our program, but one that our program truly welcomes.”
Hawken graduated six seniors but they’re filling those holes with talented players from the JV squad that finished 16-0 in 2017.
With four returning starters and several others with varsity experience, the Hawks have the potential to make some noise in the Chagrin Division this fall.
“Our team needs to be consistent and disciplined,” Hace said. “We are lucky enough to have some depth. It simply means putting it all out there on the floor and fulfilling your designed role. The passion for the sport is certainly there, but it’s going to take a strong work-ethic and some serious confidence to compete in the CVC. We certainly had tastes of it last season playing teams like Berkshire and Cardinal in the regular season. It’s time we set that bar high for ourselves and our goal is to not be underestimated.”
Seniors Ally Sewell, Kenzie Lee and Leah Kulma and juniors Oriana Zup, Jordan Kutash and Deena Akras are Hawken’s projected starters.
Sewell is the setter while Zup will set and line up as a right-side hitter. Kutash is an outside hitter; Akras is a middle hitter; Lee will play libero and Kulma is Hawken’s defensive specialist.
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