Coming off of a 14-2 season, this year’s Harrisonburg JV girls basketball team has a lot to live up to. With a new coach and a variety of new players, the team has adjustments to make in order to have a winning season.

Coach Allysia Rohlehr is a Harrisonburg native who returned to finish her Masters of Science in Sport and Recreation Leadership degree at JMU. Rohlehr first started coaching when her playing career ended her junior year in college due to a concussion. She started with an AAU team, the Harrisonburg Hornets, and has been associated with some of the same girls since. Rohlehr has taken the first few weeks of the season to adjust to the Harrisonburg style and the team.

“I’ve been getting to know the JV girls. [I] already know [the] varsity team pretty well since I coached them before. [I am starting to] figure out what they’re strong at and what they need to work on. [I’ve been] figuring out how to put that together to make the team work well and also learning coach Mark and DP’s style and trying to figure out how to run with them cohesively for everyone’s benefit, “ Rohlehr said.

In addition to having a new coach, the JV team added five players to the team that will be starting their high school basketball careers this season. Sophomore Hannah Merica is one of five returning players from last year’s JV team. Merica is taking on a much bigger role this year as one of the main leaders on the team.

“I’m the point guard so I help people if they don’t know what to do in the drills or plays I’ll explain it to them and demonstrate. Also, I help with communication on the court, and helping them to know where to go,” Merica said.

Both Merica and Rohlehr are aware that the returners will have to assume a bigger role to ensure that the team can quickly click to start winning games.

“I’m definitely going to be looking to the returners for leadership roles because they are returning and have been around the program for a little bit. I’m definitely leaning on them to be my voice on the court,” Rohlehr said.

For first-year players such as freshman Haylee Smith, trying out for basketball was a nerve-racking experience. However, she believes that the team will be able to come together and win games.

“I was really nervous trying out; I didn’t think I would make the team. It was all new and a lot tougher than any basketball I have played before,” Smith said. “It is going to be a lot different and a new experience for everybody. However, I think if we work hard and communicate we will do good.”