Charleston – As the all-time winningest coach in SCISA volleyball history, Ashley Hall coach Franny Slay knows a team with potential to win when she sees one.
Slay looks at her 2023 team with high expectations as the coach returns a talented and veteran unit this season. Slay enters this season, her 39th, with an 826-330 record as Ashley Hall’s coach and has won 12 state championships in SCISA. She also has 10 state runner-up finishes and won four state titles when Ashley Hall participated in the Palmetto Athletic Conference before joining SCISA.
The 2023 season got underway recently with Ashley Hall participating in a preseason event, the North-South Invitational. The Panthers finished 15th in a field of 40 teams.
“I am really excited to begin our season,” says Slay, a 1980 graduate of Ashley Hall. “I am excited about the potential of this team. This is a seasoned team that has been playing together for years. We’ve added a group of junior varsity players who bring a lot of height to our lineup.”
In addition to a few tournaments during the season, Ashley Hall’s schedule includes a competitive slate of games against top teams in SCISA, including Porter-Gaud, First Baptist, Northwood Academy, Pinewood Prep and Cardinal Newman. The Panthers also will compete against many of the top public school programs such as Bishop England, River Bluff and Philip Simmons.
The roster includes five seniors, all of who will be in a regular rotation. Those seniors include outside hitter Jen Fermo, right side Annie Goldstein, Libero Anna Strickland, middle Elizabeth Perkins, and outside hitter Riley Street. Slay considers Goldstein, Strickland and Fermo to be the team’s top players and leaders this season.
Sophomore setter Charlotte Strickland is a third-year starter and one of the best in the state at her position. Says Slay, “she’s a veteran player who is the key to our success this season.”
Junior Spencer Edgerton and junior Sadie Cowan work in the middle of the net, with junior Ellen Lesemann adding strong depth in the middle. Juniors Parker Gragg and Iris Stiegman are defensive specialists,
Other juniors on the roster are Elliana Thacker, Faye Bailey and Amanda Nybom. Freshman Liza Hood is in the rotation at outside hitter.
Due to youth and a competitive schedule, Ashley Hall’s overall record in the last few seasons has been under .500 but this may be the year for a comeback.
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