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Fall 2017 Preview: Parkview Volleyball

By Josh Hall (Josh.hall@ky3.com)

In the past three seasons, the Parkview High School volleyball team has seen some improvements.

When Allison Davis took over as head coach in 2014, the Lady Vikings went 0-17-1. The following year, they were 2-25-2. Last season was the best under Davis. Parkview went 5-24-1 after falling to Kickapoo in the first round of the Class 4, District 11 tournament.

Davis hopes Parkview will see even more progression this season.

“It’s proven in our record that we have continued to get better,” Davis said. “I feel like this season we’re going to be more competitive than we have in the past. I only continue to see us improve and be even more competitive this season.”

Parkview won 19 games in 2013, 10 in 2012, 20 in 2011 and 26 in 2010. Davis would like to get to that point again, and she believes her team has the potential to do so.

“I think we’re coming back stronger this season with some of our newcomers and the experience that we had the last couple of years,” she said. “I feel like that combination is going to be key for this team.”

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The Lady Vikings return three starters in 2017, including juniors Paiton Acord, Emma Boyd and Gracie Wedgeworth. Accord led the way for Parkview last season after being named to the All-Ozark Conference Honorable Mention team as a sophomore.

Acord, a three-year starter and six-rotation player, led the Lady Vikings in every statistical category except for assists last season.

“I expect (the season) to be a lot better than last year,” Acord said. “We have some new players coming in and I think there’s going to be a lot more energy. I think we’ll come together more as a team this year.”

Wedgeworth, another three-year starter will be Parkview’s setter again after tallying 358 assists as a sophomore.

“She is another vocal leader on the floor who is coming back with more experience and confidence to lead the front row,” Davis said.

Jade Clubb is the Lady Vikings’ lone senior and will contribute on the back row. Sophomores Alexa Morelock and Madison Hogan are also expected to play significant roles in various capacities this season.

“We’ve got a lot of younger girls really fighting for some open positions,” Davis said. “I believe this could be one of our most competitive years. These girls are working hard. They’re competing and really coming together as a team.”

Davis said nobody role is set in stone yet, but she believes that is a good thing.

“They want to learn, they’re coachable and they want to be better,” she said. “I think that’s the big difference in this team this season. That’s not saying anything bad about the previous seasons. It’s just that these kids are hungry and the younger kids that are coming in are forcing some of my upperclassmen to work a little bit harder, and I love that. Everyone’s got to work and earn their spot.”