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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Davie volleyball has been relentlessly consistent under coach Amber Brandon, posting nine winning records in her nine years at the helm, averaging 18.3 wins (not counting the COVID-shortened season of 2020-21) and never finishing below third in the Central Piedmont Conference.

Last year the War Eagles went 16-8, tied for second in the CPC and reached the second round of the state playoffs.

Rising above Reagan, West Forsyth and East Forsyth and returning to the top of the league for the first time in three years will be a real chore – Davie is going through change after graduating Lauren O’Connor, Mikaylah Hutton, Malia Privett, Caroline Lakey and Hailey Johnson – but Brandon isn’t facing a full-on rebuild either. She’s looking forward to the scrums between the stacked top half of the CPC, and she’s excited to see how her rotation evolves.

“We’re going to be super young this year,” said Brandon, who is 156-62 heading into her 10th year. “It’s been a while that we’ve been as young on the floor as we’re going to be. There’s something a little bit exciting about it being kind of a reset year. Every day at practice is a battle. Nobody’s spot is guaranteed. We’ve got three setters who are duking it out and five pins who are battling it out. It’s the least set of a lineup as I’ve probably ever had at Davie, but it’s made for competitive practices. I anticipate it’ll be a while before we have a set lineup.”

The centerpieces are senior Emma Willard and junior Carly Crouch, both of whom are third-year varsity players.

“Emma will be really big for us,” she said. “She was the libero last year and had a really good season. She had a really good travel ball season over the winter, spring and summer. So she’s playing really well right now. We’re going to be super young in terms of serve-receive reception, so it’s going to be really important for Emma to have a big role back there and be a leader.”

Crouch has a spectacular work ethic.

“Carly had a huge offseason,” she said. “She’s just an athlete. Last year she moved into a role where she was offensive for us, and we expect her to do big things. She is one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever been around, so I’m super excited for what she brings to the table.”

Senior Addison Wilson will play a big role.

“We’re going to be super young at the pin,” Brandon said. “Addison Wilson is the only senior pin hitter we have. She’s done a great job being a leader. She’s been the most vocal kid in the gym, which has been a cool role to watch her step into because that’s something new for her. She’s done a good job of taking some big swings. She played really competitive travel ball. She’s physically ready and mentally ready.”

Junior Mia Clemo is expected to be a key piece. Brandon needs Grace Goodman, Allie Miller and Melanie Watson to contribute as sophomores.

“Mia has very little time in our gym as a pin hitter,” she said. “She set for the JV team. She did hit some for them, but she’s just focusing on hitting at the varsity level.

“Grace, Allie and Melanie will have big, big roles in terms of passing, defense and trying to score points.”

Last year big, bad Reagan ran the table (14-0) in the CPC for the second year in a row on the way to 37-1 overall and state runner-up. Davie, East and West tied for second at 10-4. Brandon looks for all four to be contenders for the 2024 crown.

“Reagan will still be pretty strong,” Brandon said. “I think it’ll be interesting to see how much losing Jordan Smart hurts Reagan this year. They’re still going to be super talented offensively, but she was a kid who made that offense go. She was at a different level than any other setter in the CPC. So it will be interesting to see how they look without her running the offense.”

Reagan is always deep and talented, but West is dreaming big, too.

“West Forsyth will be really good,” Brandon said. “I think West Forsyth could make a run to win the CPC for sure. They have a dynamic sophomore class. West probably won’t have as good of ball control as Reagan, but they have some really talented pin hitters.”

East might make some noise as well.

“East Forsyth will be an interesting challenge,” Brandon said. “Kinnady Boothe had an injury in the club season; I’m not sure where she is in her recovery process – if she’s available for the high school season or when she’ll be available during the high school season. They have some size with Laney (Blevins), who will probably be a Division-I middle. When East Forsyth has beaten us the past couple of years, it’s been Payton (Fendley) that we couldn’t stop. I think she’ll be huge for them.”

Who’s going to rise to the top? The stage is set for a fascinating race.

“I think it’s going to be a battle,” Brandon said. “It’s going to be a really, really, really strong top half of the CPC.”

Brandon’s coaching staff is the same as 2023, with Marnic Lewis working as varsity assistant, Tabatha Lyons as JV coach and Morgan Flores as JV assistant. The varsity roster includes seniors Mallorie Brown and Cora Nicholson; juniors Addison McKay, Grace Ratledge, Lanah Kruger and Mackenzie Burrows; and sophomores Isabelle Branham and Ella Shea.