The Lady Indians put it all together for a well-documented State Championship run. Tallulah Falls crushed school records in their dream season. Now to follow that. It starts with replacing the production of the best player in their history (Sarah Jennings), and several starters. However, there is a great core back from the title run to do something special once again.

Head Coach: Matt Heyl, 6th season
2022 Record: 35-11; State Champions!, Area Champions, #1 State Ranking

“This season will be a lot like last season,” states 6th-year coach Matt Heyl. “If we improve throughout the entire season, great things can happen. Key players have improved so much over this past club season that my expectations are far above where they were eight months ago. I would expect us to be a top-10 team in the state again. After our offseason improvement, I think we have a good chance to win the area again or at worst a 2-seed going into state. If we can get through the tough Sweet Sixteen match against Area 6, who will have possibly the 5 best teams in the state, I believe we can get to the Final 4. And who knows what could happen there?”

Personnel

Returning Starters: 2

Key Departures: Sarah Jennings, Kitty Rodenas, Elsa Sanchez, Sofia Rueda

Jennings is the best player in school history, and she and Rodenas were some of the best in the state. Rodenas will be missed big-time at setter and serving, while Jennings brought the heart and soul and the kills, aces, and digs in buckets. Sanchez was a great hitter, and Rueda was a solid starter as well.

Key Returning Players: Addy McCoy, Katarina Foskey, Ashlyn Yaskiewicz, Skylyn Yaskiewicz, Claire Kelly, Kate Gary, Becca Heyl, Julianne Shirley, Chesney Tanksley, Dunja Vukelic

“We are looking forward to Addy McCoy (All-State) returning and dominating the net and service line,” says Heyl. “She is already a much better attacker with her offseason club experience and training. Katarina Foskey will be key to the Lady Indians’ success. She has played just less than a year, but with her vast improvement over the club season she and McCoy will be looked on at the start of the season to be the offensive weapons. With Ashlyn Yaskiewicz’s improvement, she will fill an outside hitter position after losing two of the best outside hitters we have ever had in Sarah Jennings and Elsa Sanchez. Our other key returners and leaders Skylyn Yaskiewicz, Claire Kelly, and Julianne Shirley will be looked at to get some solid playing time. These three young ladies have already shown great leadership and versatility in this offseason. Skylyn even set for us in our summer scrimmages. Our returning sophomores Kate Gary and Becca Heyl should provide some great energy and experience from last year’s varsity run. Heyl will most likely fill the other outside hitter position. Gary will be the starting libero and will be looked at to keep our defense on their toes with her grit and amazing digging ability. Chesney Tanksley, last year’s JV starting setter might see some big minutes to help run our offense this year. She will have some competition with Dunja Vukelic an upcoming freshman from Serbia. They will feed off of each other nicely. They will have big shoes to fill in the loss of Kitty Rodenas.”

Strengths

Strengths: “For the first time in TFS history the middle attackers will be where most of our offense goes to,” says Heyl. “Historically the outside hitters are counted on to do most of the offensive work. We will be more well-rounded offensively with our middle attackers Addy McCoy and Katarina Foskey leading the way. Another strength is that our offense will be deeper. We will be able to set anywhere and expect a great attack to happen. Another strength that is not normal for us is that we will be the best blocking team since I have been coaching.”

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