Fall 2019 Preview: Buffalo Volleyball

By Chris Parker

Buffalo finished .500 overall last year in the first season as a member of the Ozark Mountain Conference. Four of Buffalo’s six all-conference selections return this season.

The head of that group is senior Delaney Miller who earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior after leading the Lady Bison in kills (241), blocks (43) and aces (36).

“Delaney is an all-around great player. She jumps well, reads well, and isn’t intimidated. She has the confidence to face anyone on the other side of the net and that is huge,” Buffalo head coach Carmen Smith said. “I expect Delaney to be a leader on and off the court. The girls look up to her to do good things for us on the court, so we need her to be that player to pick everyone up when things are not going as they should be. She has to keep a positive head and attitude and the others will follow. Delaney will be a Middle playing all the way around.”

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Brooke Jacobs was named honorable mention all-conference as one of Buffalo’s two setters. This year she will be the main setter for Buffalo after accounting for 205 assists last year.

“She is a great defender and her confidence as a setter has improved over the summer. Brooke continues to work with her hitters and their connections. I feel that Brooke and Delaney have a good chemistry together and they will be fun to watch this season,” Smith said.

Senior Madison Andrews was a second-team all-conference selection last year and returns as an outside hitter. Bethany Lancaster will be back as a middle hitter in her senior season after earning honorable mention all-conference honors last season.

Senior Grace Phillips (defensive specialist) and junior Andrea Brown (right side hitter) also return to the varsity lineup.

Makayal Strickland (senior right side), Rayghan Portman (senior defensive specialist), Caitlyn Dugan (junior outside hitter), Serenity Gann (sophomore defensive specialist) and Kyra Jacobs (sophomore outside hitter) will all be in the mix for varsity playing time.

Buffalo will travel to Osage for a jamboree with Bolivar, Hillcrest and Osage on Aug. 26. The Lady Bison will open the regular season on Sept. 2 at home against Sherwood.