Roane County High’s 2010 volleyball team includes, front (from left): Amber Harper, Callie Moles, Kelly Hall, Muriah Nutter, Kadee Kizer, Courtney Runyon; middle: Grace Westfall, Kenzie Shreve, Leighanne Batten, Kayla King, Kasey Blosser, Rebecca Sloan; back: Asst. Coach Gary King, Morgan McMinn, Brandy Hylbert, Micky Rhodes, Beth Hylbert, Hillary Blosser, Ashley Parsons, Katie Mace, Leah Nichols, Coach Phyllis Nutter. Photo by Sue Knotts

"Good chemistry; that’s what builds your team," Nutter, head Roane County High volleyball coach said. "I feel that chemistry is there."

Nutter will start her second season with the Lady Raiders today (Thursday) with an LKC match at Gilmer County. Along with good chemistry, Roane returns three starters from a year ago on a youthful roster that includes only one senior.

The Lady Raiders finished 15-14 in 2009. They were ninth in the conference and got swept by Ravenswood in the sectional tournament.

The returning starters are juniors Kelly Hall, Brandy Hylbert and Leah Nichols.

"I think (Hall) will be one of our top players," Nutter said. "She’s pretty athletic and can read the ball real well. She gets the plays set up for us."

Hall, a captain along with senior Leighanne Batten, will be an outside hitter and help direct the Lady Raiders in their new 5-1 set.

Defensive specialist Hylbert will play the libero spot.

"That’s all back row playing," Nutter said. "She’s good at digging the ball and is very aggressive on that back row."

Nichols, an honorable mention all-LKC pick as a sophomore, is also an outside hitter after shifting from setter.

"She’s getting stronger every day," Nutter noted. "She really transitions well."

The newcomers to the lineup all saw limited varsity action last season. They are sophomores Beth Hylbert, Micky Rhodes and Muriah Nutter, the coach’s daughter.

Hylbert is a strong server, Rhodes a middle hitter and blocker and Nutter a setting specialist. Nutter was MVP of the JV team as a freshman.

Batten will see back row action for Beth Hylbert and Kayla King, a sophomore and the daughter of assistant coach Gary King, will rotate in as an outside hitter and blocker.

The Lady Raiders and St. Marys split four games during a preseason scrimmage. Roane’s JV team, which includes 11 freshmen, swept three games during the same scrimmage.

"There’s a tremendous amount of talent there," Nutter said of the JV. "I’m looking forward to working with them on the varsity level."

She’s also looking forward to this year and facing a schedule that includes the usual slate of LKC opponents as well as an appearance in the Volleyball Showcase at the Charleston Civic Center.

"I believe that once we start moving into matches we will see some improvements with transitioning and reaction times," Nutter said. I do think right now that is a downfall of some of the players and they could be holding back their talents.

"We’re young and inexperienced, but I know we’ll have a winning season. I think we’re going to be on top of our game this year."

Football Campers Brothers Kaleb (left) and Colin Greathouse posed with Owen Schmitt of the Seattle Seahawks during the former WVU star’s football camp earlier this summer in Charleston. Kaleb is a sixth-grader and Colin a fourth-grader at Walton Elementary/Middle School. Submitted Photo

Dave Cooper, Jim Hamric and the late Leo Hines will be honored before Friday’s Raider football game with Tyler Consolidated at County Stadium.

Cooper, a Spencer resident, is being recognized for his contributions as a booster and volunteer, first at Spencer High School and later at RCHS. He was instrumental in forming the Raider Athletic Club and served as its first president, along with his wife, Martha.

Cooper was a major fundraiser and worked to ensure the passage of a bond issue that led to the establishment of County Stadium. He also personally helped with construction during the project.

“Without question, Dave Cooper belongs in the (hall) because of his unselfish desire to bring the best and provide the best for the students of both SHS and RCHS,” his nomination reads.

Hamric is best known for coaching Spencer High to the Class AA football championship in 1991 with a 14-0 record after finishing as runner-up the previous season. He worked in the county from 1971-97, coaching at Walton High, SHS and RCHS. He was the first head football coach and athletic director at RCHS, serving until 1997.

He was president of the state coaches’ association, named state coach of the year in 1992 and inducted into the state coaches’ association hall of fame.

Hamric later worked at Braxton County High and Parkersburg High, where he retired as an assistant principal and athletic director in 2004. He currently lives in Mineral Wells.

“Coach Hamric had a great relationship with all of his players and assistant coaches,” his nomination form reads. “His players in turn had a great deal of respect for Coach Hamric and continue that respect today.”

Hines, a former Spencer resident, will be recognized for his contributions to local baseball. His efforts included boosting the Roane County Little League program as well as the programs at SHS and RCHS. He was known as a determined fundraiser.

“They sold (truck raffle) tickets for $100 each and it was hard to tell Leo no,” according to his nomination, which noted that the Little League program was the future for high school baseball.

Hines was also involved with laying the groundwork for the current RCHS baseball field.

“Leo passed away before it was completed, but many people remember Leo and baseball in the same thought,” the nomination reads.

The current class boosts the number of hall of fame members to eight. Sidney Boggs, Joe Evans, Granville Lance, Jim McCulty and Don Starcher were inducted last year in the inaugural class.