FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville Tech volleyball team has announced an eight-player roster for the upcoming 2021 spring season.
Head coach Moe Licardo said the lineup — built through a mix of returners, experienced transfer players and talented newcomers — is the most athletic in the program’s three-year history.
“We’ve developed every year,” Licardo said. “This is our fastest, most athletic team and the strongest passing team we’ve had.”
The Trojans will be anchored by two returning players, outside hitter Alexis Spexarth and libero Kristen Woods.
The pair, both of whom saw considerable floor time last season, have been named team captains, a first in the program’s history.
“Kristen and Alexis carry over the culture and the standards that (assistant coach Dal Langston) and I have started to develop in the program,” head coach Moe Licardo said. “Both captains have really stepped up on and off the court.”
Joining Woods and Spexarth in the sophomore class are two transfers, Lauren Adams and Alyssa Wrench.
Adams, a native of Wade, N.C., comes from Cape Fear Community College. Playing in all 21 games, she led the Sea Devils in total blocks with 51. She’ll line up at right side for the Trojans.
Wrench joins the Trojans from Methodist University, where she played 19 matches, starting eight as a freshman in fall 2019. The Spivey’s Corner native will move to outside hitter for FTCC.
Licardo said Adams and Wrench will be six-rotation players for the Trojans.
The Trojans signed four freshmen to complete this season’s roster.
Nytiara Brothers of Raeford, N.C., and Georgetown, S.C., native Sonjai Guiles will play the middle. At the 5-foot-10 and 5-foot-11, respectively, the pair will give the team a smaller but faster front than last year, when 6-footers Da’Nya McPhatter and McKenzie Smith manned the net.
Setter Jacqueline Woosley and defensive specialist Taylor Melvin, both from Fayetteville, round out the lineup.
Licardo said the addition of Woosley, despite her youth, has been seamless for the team’s hitters.
Melvin, a perennial all-conference selection while playing at local Cape Fear High School, adds consistency to the Trojans’ back row.
“This is the best passing team I’ve ever had,” Licardo said. “Having Taylor back there adds tremendously to our back row ability.”
The Trojans will begin play in late January following a decision made by the NJCAA to postpone all athletics to the spring season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Licardo praised his players’ mental toughness in adapting to health and safety precautions, as well as schedule adjustments.
“With only eight players, our players have to keep up the mentality everyday, and not just on the court,” Licardo said. “But our players are just so excited to play, they’re willing to do whatever it takes.”