The Huntington varsity girls’ volleyball team came within one win of qualifying for post-season play, outperforming pre-season expectations. Plans are already being laid for next fall when key returnees Megan Donaghy and Kate Barba will be looked upon to lead the Blue Devils.
Donaghy had a team best number of kills for the second consecutive season with 96. (A kill is when a player’s attack isn’t returned by an opponent.) The junior was also second on the team with 116 digs and 23 service aces.
The Huntington volleyball program is planning for next season. (Darin Reed photo.)
“Megan’s consistent play on defense and in serve receive gives us an opportunity to compete with some of the stronger teams in the county,” head coach Todd Donaghy said. “Megan works hard in practice and gives 100 percent, 100 percent of the time.”
Barba, a talented sophomore, will play a central role on next season’s Blue Devil team. “She started her freshman campaign on the junior varsity squad and she quickly demonstrated that she not only belonged on varsity, but she became a starter as well,” Coach Donaghy said.
Barba tallied 76 kills in 42 games as a freshman and then notched 84 kills in 35 games last fall. “Kate led the team with 127 digs and was first in service points with 78,” Coach Donaghy said. “Kate’s a strong volleyball player who will continue to get better over time, She’s an extremely hard worker who wants to get better.”
The loss of senior Shannon Kehoe will assuredly be felt by Huntington next fall. But with interest in the program skyrocketing, as indicated by the more than 120 seventh and eighth graders that tried out for the J. Taylor Finley Middle School team this winter, the Blue Devils are hopeful they are headed in the right direction.