By Chris Parker
Sarcoxie had a young team with a new coach in Addison Berry last year. The Lady Bears experienced their first losing season since 2014 going 11-21. It also snapped a streak of three consecutive district titles.
The young Sarcoxie volleyball team definitely learned some lessons from that season.
“The biggest thing is to always be practicing at a high level. During the summer we have definitely been working on always practicing at a high-level because you play like you practice,” Berry said. “And the girls have really taken that to heart and they have been working really hard on always being up in practice and always giving it their all.”
Now Sarcoxie is ready to get back to its winning ways with every player returning.
“Last year we did not have any seniors on the team so we have everyone returning. The girls have definitely gained a lot of varsity experience at a young age,” Berry said. “I have definitely seen maturity levels grow and work ethic. And I believe that’s going to help us a lot this year. I have definitely seen maturity levels grow and work ethic. And I believe that’s going to help us a lot this year.”
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Three captains return in Myra Caddick (junior setter), Jacy Roth (junior outside hitter) and Brooklyn Carr (junior libero). Caddick earned second-team all-conference honors last year after she accounted for 368 of Sarcoxie’s 397 total assists. Roth was an honorable mention all-conference honoree after she led Sarcoxie in kills with 117. Carr was No. 1 for Sarcoxie in both digs (357) and serve-receives (422).
“I believe in team chemistry and I believe that all the girls will be having a significant impact,” Berry said. “We have three returning captains, Myra Caddick, Jacy Roth and Brooklyn Carr, all three are juniors and those three have definitely taken a leadership role that I believe will definitely impact the team greatly.”
Missouri will be moving from a best-of-three to best-of-five set format this year for volleyball, which will be an adjustment for all of the teams.
“As someone who played college I really enjoy the three out of five sets,” Berry said. “I believe it definitely shows mental toughness and who can last those sets. I can definitely tell you that our girls have been conditioning a lot so that they can handle the three out of five sets since that something that they’re not used to.”
Team will be a theme for a Sarcoxie volleyball program looking to get back to the state tournament.
“The overall expectation for this year is to make everything we do about the team,” Berry said. “Volleyball is a team sport and I believe that it is about everyone contributing to have a significant impact on the girls around you. It’s about the we not me. And I know that the girls have done an amazing job about building that team chemistry.”
Sarcoxie opens the season on Aug. 29 at the Verona tournament.
