The Red Knights libero Harley Mendez makes a diving save in North’s volleyball win over Mariner last year.
\nFILE\/MARK CLIFFORD<\/p>\n
When Nancy Eskay stepped down as North Fort Myers head volleyball coach, whomever succeeded her was going to have a hard act to follow.<\/p>\n
Enter Anthony Mendez, who has gotten the Red Knights off to their best start in years. They reached the championship game of the Gene Gorman Invitational at Charlotte High School, and showed this team should be a tough out once we get to the postseason.<\/p>\n
Mendez started the year 12-1 thanks to the fact he has familiarity with the girls from travel ball in both indoor and beach volleyball.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very scrappy. We aren\u2019t a very big team but our service is very impressive and aggressive so we put the other team in their heels,\u201d Mendez said. \u201cIf we serve well, it helps us out the rest of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mendez is a little bit different from Eskay, who coach Big Red for 14 years. His practices tend to be a lot looser and more fun while he preaches fundamentals and simplicity on both sides of the net, executing them with precision with six-on-six scrimmages and other techniques.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe run a high-ball offense, so nothing catches our hitters by surprise and the defense is able to pick things up and get tips off the blocks covered well,\u201d Mendez said.<\/p>\n
The team is loaded with experienced veterans led by Sydnie Weaver, who leads the team in kills, and Harley Mendez, a libero who leads in digs. Sophomore Carly Painter has been the best all-around player as she\u2019s among the leaders in kills and digs and leads with aces.<\/p>\n
\u201cHarley covers my entire backcourt. She does well in passing and serve receive and I have four other seniors who have been tremendous,\u201d Mendez said. \u201cThey have been leading the charge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harley Mendez said things have been going great and she has learned how to become more of a leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe practices are fun and the girls get along great. It\u2019s probably been my favorite season yet,\u201d Harley said. \u201cGoing into practices in the past was harder work and strict but we\u2019re doing different drills and the change has been good. Winning helps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amari Jennings has been another backline stopper. She said coach Mendez has seen what they can do and sets them up for success.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been switching up the positions, which has been a big help for all the hitters,\u201d Jennings said. \u201cI\u2019ve been getting to my spots more. I played middle but I\u2019ve transitioned to the right side where it\u2019s slower.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weaver said the team connects with each other well and that the team has helped her become one of the top players in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey encourage me along the way and they put the pieces together so I can finish for them.\u201d Weaver said. \u201cCoach lets us do fun things at practice and we\u2019ve bonded well and he puts us in positions where we work well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the strong start, the Red Knight are eighth in the region due to strength of schedule. That number went up at the Gene Gorman Invite. <\/p>\n
After beating Ida Baker (for the third time), North was pitted with DeSoto County, one of the top programs in the region, also called the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
North won the first set and had a big lead in the second, only to cough it up and see the momentum completely shift. The Bulldogs came from behind to win the second set and then the third to take the match.<\/p>\n
The Red Knights recovered and beat Out-of-Door Academy in its next match, resulting in a three-way tie for first in their bracket with Out-of-Door and DeSoto. North was declared the first-place team.<\/p>\n
The Red Knights narrowly won in straight sets in the semifinal over Evangelical Christian and would play host Charlotte in the final. It was not meant to be as Charlotte cruised in two sets 25-7, 25-12.<\/p>\n
Harley Mendez was named to the All-Tournament team. Coach Mendez said he was happy with how the tournament played out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe played well every single game. We came out flat for this one,\u201d Mendez said. \u201cI wish we could have upped our game against Charlotte. Going 3-2 and losing in the finals against a well-coached team isn\u2019t bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
After losing to Charlotte, the team rattled off three straight wins before falling to Estero on Sept. 26. <\/p>\n
The Red Knights are back in action at home against Bonita Springs on Oct. 6, and have an overall record of 18-4.<\/p>\n