River Cities Thunder Volleyball Club Caps Season

By ROBYN RISON - The Herald-Dispatch

Randy Snyder/The Herald-Dispatch The River Cities Volleyball Club 16-year-old national team completed a successful season. Team member pictured are: front row (left to right) Cori Rakes, Brittanny Hunt, Kristen Stamper, Jessie Bowers, Ashley Nicely, Coach Greg Spector; back row, Bethany Woodall, Alissa Mays, Taylor Strickland, Caitlin Mulvaney, Jessie Bailey.

HUNTINGTON -- The River Cities Thunder Volleyball Club capped a successful 2004 season at the Ohio Valley Regional Tournament in Columbus. The second-year club started by Marshall volleyball coach Mitch Jacobs consisted of teams in four different divisions. The 16-year-old national team finished tied for 13th in the OVR tournament and was 12th out of 186 teams in the region in the final standings.

Team members were Jessica Bailey, Jessica Bowers, Brittany Hunt, Alissa Mays, Caitlin Mulvaney, Ashley Nicely, Corie Rakes, Kristin Stamper, Taylor Strickland and Bethany Woodall. The team was coached by Greg Spector.

The 16-year-old regional team finished tied for third place in the Kryptonite division of the OVR tournament. Team members are Courtney Boodry, Kayla Cole, Katie Derickson, Sarah Dumbaugh, Hannah Hager, Samantha Russell, Amanda Staley, Dani Turner, Brittany Wall and Candice Wright. Shannon O’Connor coached the squad.

The 14-year-old team tied for third place in the Tungsten division of the OVR tournament. Team members are Elizabeth Bartlett, Sydney Brickett, Beth Ann Crutchfield, Kali Enix, Hollynn Hager, Heather Hogan, Emily Mannon, Sheena McClendon, Sydney Nicholas, Christine Schussler, Raquel Shaw, Kasha Shull and Caitlin Smith. Amber Sims and Katie Stein coached the team.

The 17-year-old team tied for 5th in the Chromium division. Members are Sarah Cartmell, Ashley Hutchinson, Nina Mecca, Amanda Moore, Ashley Sanders, Cattrina Stazdin, Whitney Stidham, Lyndsey Thacker, Jennifer Wiles and Krystal Baumann. Shawndra Thompson coached the team.

Players interested in joining one of the teams can contact Mike Strickland at 429-3438.