By Chris Parker
Sparta volleyball has a new head coach leading the way in Rachel Kirkman this year.
Kirkman is still familiazing herself with her players, but some leaders have started to stand out.
“I have already seen a couple key leaders step up. Senior Aysha Fulton will set for us, but she has already proven her leadership abilities with her work ethic and determination to make her team better. Baylee Williams has also stepped up and been a huge help for me in getting to know the team. She is a great player with good ball control, but more importantly, a great supporter of her team,” Kirkman said.
Sparta returns two all-conference selections in Megan Brown and Natalie Wilks. Brown was a first-team all-conference selection while Wilks earned second-team honors.
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“Megan Brown is an incredible athlete. She has the ability to play any position on the court and is always wanting to learn and get better,” Kirkman said. “Natalie Wilks is another player that has the ability to play any position. She is a natural athlete, but also brings with her a big personality and lots of energy.”
Senior Autumn Brynildson and junior Hailey Bumgarner also return.
Sophomore Averi Leyland saw limited varsity action last year. This year she will be a fulltime varsity player. Grace Jemes is a freshman that should see immediate action on the varsity level at setter.
“Our biggest strength this year is our work ethic. These girls have been working hard and they never take it easy,” Kirkman said. “Every time they are in the gym, they are working to improve themselves and each other. What excites me the most about this team is their desire to learn and work hard to get better. There are so many other players that could potentially step up and into varsity roles.”
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Sparta opens the season on Sept. 2 at home against Ava.
“The girls and I have talked a little about our goals for this season, and we know that we can’t wait until August to start working towards those goals,” Kirkman said. “If we are hoping to achieve everything we want to, it takes work and dedication all summer long. Because they have proven to me that they are ready to step up and take that on, I have very high expectations for what this team can accomplish.”
