A shot at redemption

Posted at: 11/14/2012 5:40 PM | Updated at: 11/14/2012 5:58 PM
By: Robin De Wind | WHEC.com

It's every high school athlete' s dream, to make it to states. And local one team is hoping to bring home a championship this weekend at the state finals.

The Pittsford Sutherland Girls Volleyball team was a heavy sectional favorite last year, but they lost in the quarter finals. This year, the Knights didn't make that same mistake, their shot at redemption comes this weekend in Glens Falls. Leading their team, a player we're sure you're going to be hearing a lot about.

Most teams that make it to states have senior leadership behind them, but the  Pittsford Sutherland Girls Volleyball team has a couple of starting freshman, sophomores and juniors leading the way.  A young team on paper, but a focused hungry group led by one of the best in Section V.

Luisa Schirmer, junior, said, “We don't play like we're immature ,we don't care about our age, we play with no fear.”

Junior captain Luisa Schirmer has been honing her no fear attitude on this team since the 8th grade. As a freshman, the Knights won states. Last summer, Schirmer was one of only 12 girls across the country picked for the U.S. Olympic Program. She traveled to the Dominican Republic and Europe, playing along with some of the best high school players in the country. The passion of this born competitor has rubbed off on her team, helping to create a winning attitude..

Maegan Bothner, junior captain, said, “Other people may have underestimated us but we all thought we had the potential to go this far.”

Matt Glover, Pittsford Sutherland Girls Volleyball Head Coach, said, “She keeps us under control and in check and the younger girls see they can push through that.”

This weekend won't be easy and the fact that this team without seniors will have another crack at it next year is no fall back. They want and expect to win.

Schirmer said, “We are very excited for this weekend. We're working hard to redeem ourselves from last year  to get to another state championship.”

Pool play in Class A begins Saturday with the finals on Sunday. In Class AA, Mercy will also try for a state title this weekend.

As for Luisa Schirmer, she carries a 4.0 and has about 10 Division I schools looking at her already including Maryland, Duke, Michigan and North Carolina.

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