Conditions look favorable for historic outdoor high school volleyball match Tuesday at Manchester

MANCHESTER — Matt Weis sounded out of breath.

“We’re setting up the plywood right now,” he said.

That was Sunday afternoon, more than 48 hours before West Delaware was to welcome Mount Vernon for the first outdoor high school volleyball match in state history.

“We’re getting the floor down, then it’s a matter of monitoring the weather,” said Weis, athletics director at West Delaware. “We’re hoping humidity or wind doesn’t become a factor.”

First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brown Field.

“I have no idea what the crowd will be like,” Weis said. “It could be a lot. We’ve got a lot of seating in our home bleachers. Will it be enough? I don’t know.”

The JV and freshman “A” match will be played indoors at Seedorff Gymasium at 4:30; the sophomore and freshman “B” matches are scheduled for 5:30.

Then it’s a matter of getting the officials and fans outside for the main event.

The court resides on the home side, atop the turf field, with a layer of plywood between. The net will run above the 50-yard line.

Weis knew the court dimensions by heart.

“It’s 92 feet, 4 inches by 56-feet-1,” he said. “We’re using 165 sheets of plywood.”

The forecast for Manchester at first serve calls for 71 degrees, no chance of rain and wind out of the south at 6 mph.

That’s playable for certain, unless humidity makes the surface slick.

Mount Vernon (14-2 overall, 1-0 Wamac Conference East Division) is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A; West Delaware (15-1, 1-0) is No. 9.

“We’re just really excited to be a team that has an opportunity to be a part of this,” Mustangs Coach Maggie Willems said. “It’s a great matchup anyway -- indoors, outdoors or wherever.”

Mount Vernon star Chloe Meester suffered a mild ankle injury during pre-match warmups last week against Solon.

“It was an absolute freak thing,” Willems said. “She totally gutted it out in the match.

“I think she’ll be ready to play (Tuesday).”

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com