Volleyball Preview: Yorktown Huskers

Yorktown volleyball player Katarina Weigel, who has a genetic defect of her heart, collapsed while doing conditioning during the team's preseason camp on July 15. 

Her coach Katy Sherwood and Yorkown Athletic Club softball coach Jeff Wilson began to perform CPR before football coach Mike Rescigno used the automated external defibrillator (AED) on Weigel.

Then her heart started beating again.

Sherwood said the girls were one minute into the workout, when Weigel fell backwards, and she thought the girl was going to have a seizure. She immediately had someone call 911 and began performing CPR.

"The girls saw me do CPR, which was very terrifying, but I didn't have time to clear them out or think about that," she said. "It gave us the perspective that volleyball is important but it's not everything."

As a result Weigel had a pacemaker put in her heart. Although she would not be able to play volleyball, she will be the team's manager.

What's important to the girls is having fun and working together as a team, their coach said.

Sherwood is a physical education teacher at Yorktown High School and has coached the JV team for the last seven years. She has coached the juniors on the team during all of their three years of high school.

"I know these girls really well," Sherwood said.

The team's goal is to have a winning season after going 7-12 a year ago. And their coach said she was excited to see what the girls could do, because everyone on the team has a lot of potential.

"I don't sit much, I am very aggressive," Sherwood said. "I let the girls know right away what they are doing wrong. I am the first one to tell them that they are doing something wrong but I am the first one to tell them when they are doing something right and give them praise. But I have high expectations and they have to meet my expectations."

In the upcoming season, four of Yorktown's top returning players are senior outside hitters Jenna Nardi and Mirusha Mujaj, junior middle hitter Erin Sweeney and senior middle hitter Donika Zherka.

Providing solid leadership for the Huskers will be Nardi.

"She has a great attitude," Sherwood said. "She never gives up. She hits hard from the outside. She's a good leader."

Mujaj also brings a great attitude to the floor, hustles and hits the ball well. Zherka can bring the experience of playing overseas.

"She has been working really hard," Sherwood said. "She played in Europe this summer, so her skills have improved a lot. She's a smart player as well."

Sweeney, who started last year as a sophomore, works hard and can play back row, Sherwood said.

Two of Yorktown's top newcomers are junior setters Sam Strebel and Heather Raniolo.

"Sam has great skills," Sherwood said. "I am expecting her to mix up the offense a lot and do some different things. Heather works her butt off. She is constantly on the ground. She hustles like you wouldn't believe. She is very team-oriented."

2010 Yorktown Schedule

Sept. 11 Yorktown Tournament 9 a.m.

Sept. 14 Lourdes 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 16 @ Ketcham 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 17 @ Peekskill 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 20 North Salem 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 @ Panas 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 24 Lakeland 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 @ Hen Hud 4:15 p.m.

Sept. 28 Mahopac 4 p.m.

Sept. 30 @ John Jay 4 p.m.

Oct. 2 @ Kennedy Catholic 11 a.m.

Oct. 4 Somers 4 p.m.

Oct. 6 @ Brewster 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 Carmel 4 p.m.

Oct. 12 @ Mahopac 4 p.m.

Oct. 14 John Jay 4 p.m.

Oct. 16 Sleepy Hollow 11 a.m.

Oct. 18 @ Somers 4 p.m.

Oct. 20 Brewster 4 p.m.

Oct. 22 Carmel 4 p.m.