Both PHS head coach Erin Thorpe as well as Parkersburg South mentor Becky Bennett believe their squads firmly will be in the mix this season. The Patriots boast six seniors on their current varsity roster of a dozen, which doesn’t include 12th-grade hitter Abbey Lathem, who is out for the year with a knee injury. “The girls have really come out with a different sense about themselves,” admitted Bennett, whose squad will be led by seniors Cassie Fink (OH), Alana Brigner (RS/MB), Catreena Shears (OH), libero Kylee McCorkle, setter Lauren Somerville and defensive specialist Alyssa Reeves. “We’re seeing a lot of leadership out of this senior group, more than I’ve ever seen. They are vocal about it. They want to work. They want to go to the state tournament.” Coach Thorpe admitted she’s currently running a pretty tight rotation, but Maggie Sauers is keying the 5-1 offense at setter. “She was out about a fourth of the season after she got hurt in October,” the coach said of Sauers. “She’s running the floor really well “She’s starting to become really smart with what she’s doing. It’s exciting. Even in the last couple of weeks we’ve watched her grow a lot.” Parkersburg has a trio of captains in junior libero Khylan Plants as well as senior spikers Shelby Roberts and Janna Spencer. Anna Umpleby, Kristen Lowers, Kisten Roberts and Beyonce Pierce also should give the red and white plenty of firepower at the net. “I’ve got almost everyone going all the way around,” Thorpe admitted. “We really don’t have a set person who is going outside (hitting). Our rotation is kind of funky. “We are really focusing on attitude and focusing on energy in the gym and consistency.” PHS sports eight freshmen as well as senior Marleigh Davis along with juniors Emily Cancade and Gracie Graham, who spent her first two years as Williamstown’s libero. The 10th-grade class also includes Amaya Elkins and Italian foreign exchange student Lia Tosatti Molinari. “We know the competition in the state is going to be really tough this year,” Thorpe added. “Our main thing we are focusing on is ourselves.” Coach Bennett also can call upon the services of Makenna Gibson (OH/RS), Karlie Martin (L/DS), Reagan Nutter (RS/MB), Nakia Bracy (MB), Logan Bowman (MB) and Haley Hatfield (S). “I’m definitely confident if they keep working the way they’ve been working there’s no end as to where we can go,” said coach Bennett, whose squad opens the season at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when Morgantown and Warren invade the Rod Oldham Athletic Center. “If we play like we can play we can make it to states. We can compete with anybody in the state when we have our game on. It’s just something we are going to have to work on like everybody.” While the Patriots also have a road dual Thursday at John Marshall, PSHS will join the rival Big Reds when they open their campaign on Saturday at Woodrow Wilson’s Invitational. “We’re really trying to get the energy flowing on the floor when we’re playing,” Thorpe added. “That’s really a complete change from the past. “People are going to be seeing things offensively and defensively, at least from my end as long as I’ve coached, they haven’t seen before. I’m really excited about it.”