The St. Andrew's volleyball season started out with a mixture of hope and uncertainty as the Lions returned a talented squad featuring six seniors adapting to a new style of coaching under Jessee Grubesic, who took over when veteran coach Bobbi Mock retired.
But the Lions have put together a season to remember.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, St. Andrew's (24-1) celebrated Senior Night with a 3-set sweep of Coastal Home School as six upperclassmen were honored in Graci Dare, Ryan McGee, Caroline Lawrence, Scarlett Holmes, Abby Chu-Pruden and Lily Aiken were recognized on a night when junior outside hitter Khloe Jesswein dominated as she has all season.
St. Andrew's, which competes in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association,had its only loss of the season
in its second match of the year against Loganville Academy. The Lions are on a 23-game win streak that includes victories over St. Vincent's, Savannah Arts, Savannah Country Day, Effingham County and Islands, all successful Georgia High School Association programs.
In four seasons at St. Andrew's, Mock helped turn around the Lion program ― winning 39 matches and a region title in her final two seasons.
Grubesic was standout setter in her high school days playing in Denver, Colorado who started her college career at the Division I level playing at Saint Peter's University in New Jersey. She moved across country to play beach volleyball at San Diego Christian College before closing out her college career at Savannah State.
She came to St. Andrew's after a year working as a graduate assistant coach at Valdosta State University.
"I love this team ― we have a great group of seniors and everyone wants to come to practice each day," said Grubesic, 24, who also coaches at the club level with Savannah Volleyball Elite. "They are competitive and want to win. Last year the girls reached the Elite Eight, and this year we want to go a step further and reach the Final Four. Hopefully, God will take us on from there and we can win a state championship."
Dare was an All-Greater Savannah first-team selection at setter last season and leads the team with 313 assists and 42 aces. Her top hitter is junior Jesswein, the powerful 5-foot-11 outside hitter who leads the squad with 182 kills. McGee, a left-handed opposite hitter, is another threat and is second on the team with 82 kills.
Freshman Zyona Edwards also plays a big role defensively at libero for the Lions.
In the win over Coastal Home School, Dare ran the Lion offense well as she distributed to Jesswein and McGee with a mix of other hitters contributing in an attack that kept the Hurricanes off balance.
Jesswein said the transition from a coach the players loved in Mock to Grubesic has been a smooth one.
"Having Coach Grubesic come in to lead the team has been the best thing ever," Jesswein said. "I've got to grow with this group of seniors over the last three years and had the chance to see them shine and become such great leaders. With the college experience that Coach Grubesic has had, she brings us to another level of understanding the game. She practices with us ― so we face Division I hits in practice and you just don't usually get that kind of experience.
"I know it sounds corny, but I think our strength is our love for each other," Jesswein said. "We support each other and play for each other. It's not like anyone is playing for themselves. I think we've had success in the playoffs the last couple years. We all believe we can win the state title, that's all we talk about."
St. Andrew's is set to host the first round of the GIAA Class 3A State tournament as the Lions face Dominion Christian (13-9) on Saturday, Oct. 3, at noon. If they win, the Lions would face the winner of Loganville Christian and Bethlehem Christian at 4 p.m. that same afternoon.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: How a new coach has St. Andrew's volleyball primed for a playoff run
