Windsor enjoys overdue success in volleyball

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 30, 2007

WINDSOR—The last time a Windsor High School volleyball team won a district championship, some of the players on the current Windsor team were a year old.

It’s taken 14 years, but the Lady Dukes have finally reached the top of the mountain again.

Windsor (18-2) completed its sweep of the Tri-Rivers District with a 25-19, 25-20, 25-19 win over Franklin Thursday night.

Trailing 7-1 in game three, the Lady Dukes didn’t panic and reeled off 11 straight points to take a 17-12 lead. The difference in the match was the serve of Shori Andreski, who scored eight of those points. The Lady Dukes pinned Franklin back most of the evening with their serves, particularly by Andreski and Nacasa Polhemus.

&uot;We really stress serving and returning the serve,’ said Windsor head coach Jeff Burchette. &uot;If you can’t do those two things, you’re not going to win. So we spend a lot of extra time on serving, making sure they use proper form and technique.&uot;

Burchette, in his first year as head coach of a program that has struggled, takes none of the credit for the turnaround.

&uot;It’s been heart. They are very coachable. They are just athletes, and 11 of them can play. It’s hard to put six out there because they all can play. Talent and athleticism makes a big difference,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s been easy for me. I give them all the credit.&uot;

Windsor and Franklin (10-8, 6-2) head into the district tournament at Franklin at 3 p.m. next Saturday.

Windsor has already secured a postseason spot and will host a first-round region A game Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. against Middlesex.

The Dukes’ only two losses this season have come against Lancaster in a doubleheader.