Entering his ninth season at the helm, El Dorado Springs head coach Beau Swopes is looking to reload.
The Lady Bulldogs finished the 2015-16 season with an 18-11 record and a district championship, before falling 57-35 to Class 3 state champion Strafford in the sectional round.
Four seniors move on from the team following graduation.
Kameron Schaaf, who led the Lady Bulldogs in almost every statistical category, now calls Southwest Baptist University home. Team leader Kinli Simmons has moved on to the Missouri State University – West Plains volleyball squad. Cameron McPeak and Hannah Kruckenberg provided invaluable defensive contributions.
While El Dorado Springs will be a bit younger and less experienced, Swopes is looking forward to the challenge.
“After losing four senior starters, it will be seeing who steps up,” Swopes said. “Who is willing to work to take over what they left behind.”
Fortunately for the Lady Bulldogs, there’s plenty of talent on the roster.
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Key returnees include senior Anyssa Salazar, juniors Paige Esry and Keili Tough and sophomore Taylor Robison.
Salazar is a strong outside shooter who can attack the basket, as well; Esry gives the team a solid ball handler with an ability to score; Tough is a really good athlete that can get out and defend and Robison has the ability to hit big shots from the outside.
Swopes will also rely on a couple varsity newcomers to make early contributions.
Junior Alexis Tough and sophomore Brittany Stevens both showed promise over the summer session and should continue to improve as the season rolls on.
“We have some really good athletes, but we really need to develop the skills to be a good team,” Swopes said. “Most of the girls have played for awhile, they just haven’t had a lot of time on the court together at the varsity level.”
El Dorado Springs will certainly be tested in its quest to repeat as district champions. Both Stockton and East Newton topped the 20-win mark last season and will be looking to avenge district losses to the Lady Bulldogs.
“We don’t compete in a conference and our district should be pretty tough,” Swopes said. “If we can play good defense and have some girls step up, I think we can compete in districts.”
For El Dorado Springs to build on last season’s success, Swopes feels it all comes down to the willingness to put in work during practice.
“We just have to come in everyday and work,” Swopes said.” “We won’t walk into gyms and just be better than a lot of the teams on our schedule, so we will have to go in there and outwork them.”
El Dorado Springs welcomes Lockwood, Stockton and Pleasant Hope to its Nov. 15 jamboree. The Lady Bulldogs open the regular season Nov. 21 against Buffalo.
