3 straight wins a charm for Blue Devils; Strong Sept. start for girls volleyball team.

Byline: Jay Gearan

LEOMINSTER - It was a fine September start for Leominster High School coach Patricia Myer and her girls' volleyball team last month.

The Blue Devils, in Myer's first year as varsity coach, won their opening three games against South, Groton-Dunstable and St. Bernard's, blanking the Bernardians 3-0 in an away match at the Bernardian Activity Center.

Myer is quite pleased with her team's leaders.

"Our captains are awesome," she said, praising seniors Kayleigh Zick, an outside hitter; Amber Elliott, who plays the libero position; and Meaghan Valliere, a setter.

Myer added, "Our seniors are very strong and will be relied upon heavily to help us in each game. We lost some great players due to graduation last year, and the current players have some big shoes to fill."

Happy but exhausted after the hard work in the competitive match against St. Bernard's, Elliott said, "We've been trying very hard so far. We make some mistakes, but we learn to recover. We seem to fight through everything even when we mess up."

Added Valliere, a starter for three seasons, "We're playing against a bunch of good teams, but we'll be up for them. We're excited about the season."

Proudly wearing her number 26 on her blue and white uniform, Zick said, "It's a brand-new year, and things are looking great. The changes are definitely for the better. The girls are working hard and have their heads in each game. We're excited."

Other key seniors on the team include setter Emma Patenaude, digger Marcela Garabieta, outside hitter Amanda Fellows, setter Hien Tran and outside hitter and digger Kendal Royer.

"Kayleigh and Meaghan have helped tremendously on the offense and Amber and Marcella are carrying the weight defensively," Myer said.

She added, "We are very lucky to have a talented group of juniors." Players from the class of 2011 are Meaghan McNiff, Gina Angelini, Lindsey Albano, Sabina Schiessler, Liz Kelly, Jillian Amico, Ha Nguyen and Hailey Miller.

"All of our underclassmen, except for Meaghan McNiff and Gina Angelini, spent last year on the jayvee squad, and Lindsey Albano and Liz Kelly are both coming off major knee surgeries that kept them both sidelined for the entire season last year," Myer said.

The lone sophomore on the varsity squad is outside hitter and digger Jess Hiatt.

Summing up her first month with the varsity team, Myer said, "The girls are an amazing group of young ladies who are working very hard in each and every practice. We have high hopes for the Leominster High School girls volleyball program."

LHS girls volleyball schedule

Oct. 1 at Nashoba, 4:45 p.m.

Oct. 6 Groton-Dunstable, 4:45 p.m.

Oct. 7 St. Bernard's, 3:45 p.m.

Oct. 9 at Shrewsbury, 4:45 p.m.

Oct. 13 Clinton, 5 p.m.

Oct. 15 at Hudson, 4:45 p.m.

Oct. 16 Shrewsbury, 5 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Fitchburg, 5 p.m.

Oct. 22 Ayer, 4:45 p.m.

Oct. 26 North, 4:45 p.m.

Oct. 27 at Clinton, 5 p.m.

Oct. 29 Nashoba, 4:45 p.m.

ART: PHOTO

PHOTOG: JAY GEARAN

CUTLINE: Leominster High volleyball coach Patricia Myer, third from left, with captains Kayleigh Zick, Amber Elliott and Meaghan Valliere.