North Country looks to build on winning season

Last season, as the Saco-Hinsdale Wildfire, the team was young with only three seniors, Courtney Capdeville, Madison Taylor and Hannah Whitaker. Many of last year's starters hadn't started a game before the 2014 season.

"We were really young last year and had freshmen step up into big roles," Head Coach Kathy Siroky said. "I think maturing one year, knowing high school volleyball and the speed it is, is a totally different story. I think they have risen to the challenge and are ready. All of them."

The team finished the 2014 season 11-10 and lost out in the district tourney to Nashua and took third. This year's team under a new name and with new additions hope to push deeper into the playoffs.

The North Country Mavericks now have added Whitewater players to the mix in a brand new co-operative agreement. Other than distance between schools, things are looking up for a team that may be a powerhouse in their inaugural season.

"Logistic-wise, it's difficult for practice because of time," Coach Siroky said. "You have to leave school early, get home late and try to make sure everybody has the same (amount of practice) at each town."

It took the team a little time to get used to going back and forth, from county to county.

"It was kind of a scheduling nightmare but we've got that figured out," Coach Siroky said.

The team will split home games between the three schools, hosting three games in Saco, three in Hinsdale and two in Whitewater.

The team welcomes two tremendous basketball players from Whitewater -- senior Tatum Moore and junior Kayleigh Cummings -- along with three freshmen and six returning players.

"Adding players from Whitewater has been seamless," Coach Siroky said. "They all get along really well. They know we're all out here for one thing only and that's just to play volleyball and play as a team."

She spoke well of the team chemistry, which has developed well over the summer months and two weeks of team practice.

"They're helping each other, they're coaching, they're mentoring," Coach Siroky said. "They're just a great group of girls."

This year, the team's senior class includes Moore and Delaney Beil. Beil had a tremendous year last season as a setter.

"Delaney is in her fourth year and this is my fourth season, so we've been together since the start," Coach Siroky said. "She's taken a role where she's the team leader and she's the one firing everyone up."

Coach Siroky has plans for Beil, who will be a focal point in this year's offense.

Moore hasn't played volleyball for a few years, but her athleticism will come in handy for the Mavericks.

"She's going to add a little spark because she can get after it and she's got good side to side moves and everything," she said.

Junior Payton Chopper will be the team's libero, a position she has had since the 2013 season, though she missed time last season.

"She was out part of the season with an injury and some other problems, but she's coming back," Coach Siroky said noting that Chopper will be big in other roles this season as well. "I look for her to be in there digging up anything that's hit at her."

Cummings didn't play last season but was a part of Malta's team, under their co-op in as a freshmen.

"She's got some great hands, so I'm looking forward to seeing what she does with setting. She's brings some height," Coach Siroky said. "the more she progresses, the better she's going to get."

Coach Siroky refers to her sophomore class as the "Fab Four," because of their play last season.

"They stepped up last year and had to play some big roles," she said. "I expect the same out of them (this season)."

Casity Boucher will be a setter this season and Coach Siroky noted what a strong hitter she was.

Bailey Funk is returning after missing most of the season with an injury, however Funk showed some great hitting ability in the Malta Invitational last Saturday.

"She's 100 percent," Coach Siroky said about Funk's injury. "She's moving well. I look for her to be a threat. She jumps, she can block really well. She's everywhere."

Coach Siroky refers to Mickayla Johnson as a "brick wall," because the team's middle hitter at times can be impassable.

"Nothing gets around her," Coach Siroky said. "She has just progressed so much from last year."

Jada Sudbrack is an extremely strong hitter, who at times scares Coach Siroky and many in her path.

"She hits so well and hits hard," Coach Siroky said. "She has really developed in this last year."

The team welcomes freshmen Sarah Boucher, Chaykota Christian and Alysa Conway, who will see most of their time at the junior varsity level.