A.C. Flora Volleyball
WORTHY EVANS
Columbia - Even though A.C. Flora’s volleyball team is 7-5 overall and 4-2 in Region 5-4A, head coach Erin Groves said this is not the team’s greatest year.
But for the sixth-year Falcons coach, it may be the best year.
“I’ve had Coach of the Year, we won region, we got into lower state,” she explained about that year Flora went 25-8 and 10-0 in the region in 2019. “But this group of girls is really special to me. We might not make it past second or third round, but I feel like it’s more than just volleyball. It’s really great humans who have put in a lot of work for what they’re doing, and it’s something that they’re going to be able to pull from later on.”
Flora, which lost three starters to graduation last year, has several leaders among its group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Senior Margaret Blackstone, in her fourth year with the team, leads the Falcons with her experience. Another senior, Natalie Adams, is a transfer from Clover and brings more aggressiveness to the team.
“She’s been a big came-changer for us. She’s fearless,” Grove said. “She flies all over the court.”
Two seniors relatively new to the program have also impacted the team.
Ava Grier is in her second year with the varsity team and has been a utility player but specializes in blocks . A strong volleyball player to begin with, Grove said that it’s the intangibles that she brings to the team that are priceless.
“I’m over the moon with that child,” Grove said. “She’s a natural ray of sunshine. I’ve never met a nicer human being in my 40 years of existence. And she makes major blocks. It’s like a warm hug for your heart watching this girl who is a natural athlete put in the work.”
Ana Williams is in her third year playing volleyball and has worked her way from the JV team last year to a starting position on the right side.
“She’s just ripping balls,” Grove said. “It’s so cool to see it.”
Senior middle hitter Mimi Mansaray has been a court leader for the past three years.
“The kid always gives 100 percent every time,” Grove said.
What also drives Groves’ emotional response to this team is the changes each player had to make in order to create a stronger lineup. Sophomore Alex Coleman’s move from middle hitter to outside hitter comes to Groves’ mind first and foremost.
She’s been very patient with herself,” Grove said. “When you play in the middle, everything is fast and the tempo slows down outside. She’s been super patient at adjusting.”
Sophomore Courtney Burgess is in her first year as the team’s setter, and she’s handled that change well.
“She hit for us last year, and she stepped up into the setter position and did fantastic,” Grove said. “She’s picking up all the many levels a setter has to pick up to be effective.”
With these Falcons, Grove admits that she feels emotional.
“And I’m not really emotional,” she said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been more proud with the kids than in this year. They love each other, work hard for each other, trust in me and in all the girls. There’s a big buy in and we’re accomplishing more things than in the last few seasons. We’re on an upswing.”
It’s coming at the right time, too, Grove said. The Falcons play three region matches in the first week of October, and three more in the second week. After that comes the postseason.
“There’s only two weeks guaranteed, then it’s off to the playoffs,” Grove said. “I think they feel focused, recommitted, reenergized. The next two weeks are busy, but I’m excited to see what we do.”
And, Grove said, she’s rooting for them to make this season even more special.
“I want to give them a big win. They deserve that feeling,” Groves said. “But ultimately, this group of girls I’m not going to have to worry about. They don’t need that. They’ll be able to do hard things, they’ll be able to fall back on things they’ve learned about themselves because of this team.”
About us
Recognizing the achievements of young athletes in South Carolina since 1986.