Look at Nixa’s 2016 roster compared to the 2015 edition, and you may be inclined to think, “rebuilding year.”
But someone forgot to tell that to Nixa’s talented varsity newcomers.
A young Nixa team, which has just one senior, continued its early season successes Tuesday night as the Eagles were able to fend off a previous one-loss Willard team in three sets, 25-20, 18-25, 25-20.
“The great thing about youth sometimes is the fact that they’re not scared,” said Nixa coach Annie Zimmerman. “They don’t know any better. They just go out and play. I think that has kind of been a good energy boost for some of our older players as well.”
The victory improved Nixa’s record to 9-4 overall, with the four losses coming to notable powers such as Bentonville (Ark.), St. Joseph’s Academy and Helias Catholic, as well as a three-set loss to Kickapoo last weekend.
Nixa graduated an eight-player senior class following the 2015 season, including 2016 1 Awards nominee Rielly Dobbs and Missouri State commit Aubrey Cheffey.
Only current senior Alissa Flint and current junior Regan Ansley saw consistent varsity playing time a year ago. With the lineup sheet almost wiped clean, Zimmerman and the Eagles have restocked their varsity lineup with numerous underclassmen, such as: juniors Mary Weber, Madison Grantham and Taylor Gregory, sophomores Taylor Arnold and Ciera Reyes, and freshmen Jordan Collard and Lexie Gregory.
The Eagles aren’t the most intimidating team height-wise, but their team defense is usually dependable, Zimmerman said.
“The No. 1 thing we try to pride ourselves on is our defense,” Zimmerman said. “We know we’re not going to be bigger than anybody, so we know we have to do a good blocking and playing defense behind if we’re going to give ourselves every night.”
It was a true team effort against Willard on Tuesday night, with Flint’s kill in the third set giving Nixa a 20-17 lead and putting Nixa ahead for good. Junior Regan Ansley, who teamed with Flint for nearly 20 combined kills, closed the third set the same way she finished the first: with a kill.
The Eagles switched from their usual 6-2 rotation to a 5-1 (one setter) in the third set.
“For as young as we are, to be able to make those adjustments, we handled it very well,” Zimmerman said. “It gave us enough of a different look that it kind of got Willard a little bit off balance and that helped make a difference.”
Trailing 13-8 in the first set, kills from Kara Finkbiner sparked Willard to a 14-all tie.Later, a series of Willard errors gave Nixa four straight points and a 20-16 lead to help the Eagles take the set.
Willard led the majority of the second set, but a kill from Ciera Reyes brought Nixa within 17-14. Willard held on, though, taking the set on a block from senior Kaitlyn Williams.
Willard dropped to 15-1-2 overall. Its other loss came to Rogersville in the finals of the Lori Endicott Tournament in late August. Before Tuesday night’s result, the road team in the Nixa-Willard conference series had won the previous five meetings.
Willard visits Rogersville next Monday. Nixa (9-4 overall) plays at Branson on Thursday and hosts Kickapoo on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
