Height cannot be developed. As many area volleyball coaches like to say, "Either you have it, or you don't."

Twin Counties teams have not been blessed with overwhelming height during recent years. NEW 6 Conference squads often do not face extremely tall opposition until the playoffs. Rocky Mount High coach Debbie Webb said her team, which earned its first playoffs victories last season, overcame their lack of height with skill.

"I've always felt like we were the shortest team around," Webb said. "We've always been a super defensive team. Last year, we had so much confidence, I don't think the girls noticed. They just played their game."

Filling a roster with tall players is not as simple as scouring the school's hallways for lanky teenage girls.

Northern Nash coach Patricia Haggerty said she prefers girls who are interested in the sport to come to her. Haggerty, who said she does not recruit players, said she doesn't believe a tall player makes a difference unless they are skilled.

"It helps if they have a good sense of reading the court, almost like a sixth sense," Haggerty said.

Nash Central coach Gary Smith might have one of the taller front lines in the area. Smith said senior Sara Ramsey is nearly 6 feet tall, while junior Ashley Bone is 5 foot 10 inches tall. Webb said she doesn't have a player taller than 5-8. Haggerty said Northern Nash's impact players hover around the same height.

Each coach agreed that fundamentals and developing stronger legs can combat lack of height. Rocky Mount's Lakia Bynum is a shorter player with good leaping skills. Former Gryphon Chalonda Silver excelled at the net and earned the Telegram All-Area Player of the Year award despite a short frame.

"If you have someone who can jump," Smith said. "You don't have to be tall."

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9951 or jhnunery@coxnc.com