White gains experience on the outdoor circuit – Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice

WRIGHT TWP. – Tori White loves volleyball.

Rewind back to her freshman year. White, now a senior at Crestwood High School, was approached about a new challenge. Something that she didn’t quite understand at the time, and to be honest, a prospect that was kind of scary.

Outdoor volleyball.

“I was told that it was a way of getting some extra reps in during the summer,” the Comet said. “ To be honest, I never heard of it, and the rules were different, so I was scared. But I wanted to give it a shot.”

And now?

“I play almost every weekend in the summer,” she laughed.

White, a defensive specialist, is one of four seniors on the Comets’ roster as Crestwood hopes to return back to the Class 3A postseason to make some noise.

Last year, the team reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champ, Berwick.

“It’s a little nerve-racking because there are only four seniors on the team. I am a little nervous, but excited at the same time,” she said. “I don’t feel pressure as much as I am excited to take on this leadership role. I really want to help the underclassmen, and I love being a leader. For me, it’s all about the team.”

Back to the outdoor life because it’s something that has grown in White’s heart.

Yes, there were nervous moments when she first started.

First, it was co-ed – meaning she was going to be facing off against players of all genders and ages.

Second, it was a new adventure. New rules. No hardwood court. And no six-on-six game.

Instead, she was a doubles’ player.

“Everyone thinks differently when it’s two-on-two instead of six-on-six. It gets a lot scrappier,” she said. “You see that a lot of balls get sent over on the first contact or second contact rather than getting three touches and trying to make it clean. You focus on getting the point whenever you can.”

Now, add in the variables.

Playing outside brings Mother Nature into the game. And everyone knows that Mother Nature is undefeated every season.

That’s something that White had to learn to deal with.

The games, while she wants to play as clean as possibly, weren’t always going to look perfect.

“You are playing in wind, rain, storms, 90-degree heat. It’s all the weather elements you can imagine,” she said. “It’s hard to be perfect when you are playing outside. It’s really tough sometimes, but I like that, though.”

It’s in the outdoor season where she’s done a good job of honing her game.

Playing doubles, it’s a little bit of everything balled up into one. She’s an attacker, maybe even a setter. She’s receiving passes, and working on her communication skills with her partner.

And she’s done it at the highest level on the East Coast Volleyball circuit where White’s played in the biggest events of the summer: The Pottstown Rumble and the Susquehanna Smash.

Most of all, she’s learned the greatest attribute of them all.

Love for the sport.

“Everyone wants to be around the game,” White said. “They love the game, and they are playing outdoor because they just love the sport. You aren’t always playing against people your age. You are playing against older people and younger people, guys and girls. Everyone is different. You get to learn so many different types of volleyball, and how they learned and how they play. Then, I can kind of go back and compare it to the way that I play. It’s an awesome experience.”

Now, it’s about her transition back to the indoor season where she’ll trade in the rain and sun for the bright lights of the hardwood gymnasium.

The transition? Not too hard, she admits, although, there are some slight differences.

“For outdoors, you can’t open-hand receive the first contact to the ball. And sometimes, I catch myself doing that inside and it doesn’t work. I have to remind myself every now and then,” she laughed.

At Crestwood, White will lead a squad that is young, but talented. The Comets will have to find some offensive punch as Sveva Cattaneo and Sydney Beddingfield have graduated. Those two combined for more than 320 kills in 2024.

“We are pretty young, but a lot of them did play club over the offseason,” White said. “My biggest goal is to just have fun and enjoy my last season. This is the last time I’ll get the chance to play with these girls, so I just want it to be a successful season.”

Teams to Watch

Berwick: The Bulldogs are the reigning Class 3A champ and have some young, talented players coming back into the mix – including Defensive Player of the Year Zoey Force. Berwick, the defending Wyoming Valley Conference champion, looks to be the frontrunner again in 2025.

Dallas: The Mountaineers only had one senior on the roster last year, so the Dallas underclassmen got that year of experience. Plus, Ava Adams is back after leading the league in kills last year.

Holy Redeemer: Yes, Holy Redeemer lost a good senior class. But the Royals never rebuild, but rather, reload. Citizens Voice Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year Bella Boylan is back, as is Gracie Griffin, and head coach Jack Kablick has a strong freshman class coming in. Keep an eye on Redeemer as the year progresses.

Tunkhannock: Tunkhannock always finds a way to keep fighting in the conference. Coming off a nine-win season and a berth in the postseason, the Tigers need to find a way to replace middle Piper Lukasavage, but have Grace Volker and Maya Gunderson, who both had strong summers.

Players to Watch

Bella Boylan, Holy Redeemer: Boylan, an all-state selection last season while battling through an injury, begins her final year at Holy Redeemer. As a junior, she helped the Royals to an 18th district title as she finished the year with 378 kills, 134 digs, 41 blocks and 87 points.

Grace Robbins, Berwick: The junior was the featured attacker on the district titlist. She ended the year fourth in the WVC with 161 kills and was solid in the back line with 86 points, 33 aces and 40 digs.

Julia Rauch, Berwick: Rauch could be the premier setter in the WVC this year. The junior led the league with 383 assists, and added 85 points, 71 digs and 24 aces.

Ava Adams, Dallas: She had quite the debut in 2024. As a freshman, she led the WVC in league play with 231 kills. The middle hitter is expected to be one of the top attackers in 2025.

Zoey Force, Berwick: The reigning WVC Defensive Player of the year is back, and will sure up the back line for the Bulldogs. The senior had a strong 2024 where she finished with 171 digs, 155 points and 45 aces.