By Chris Parker
New Covenant volleyball posted a 17-10 overall record last year to mark a fourth consecutive season of at least 15 wins for the Lady Warriors.
This year, New Covenant will have to replace three graduated first-team all-conference players including Mark Twain Conference MVP Macy Seevers.
Senior libero Meghan Auer will be looked to for leadership.
“Meghan Auer is a natural leader,” New Covenant head coach Lindsey Letsinger said. “She is not one who is super vocal, but she does a great job leading by example and by encouraging her teammates. Over the summer she has become more confident and I have no doubt that she will be more vocal as the year goes on.”
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Junior middle Lily Auer and sophomore setter Hatty Hesemann will also be looked to as leaders. Hesemann was a second-team all-conference selection as a freshman.
“Lily Auer is our energizer bunny. She has so much energy and brings passion to the sport and joy to competition. She has stepped up this summer to a leader role that I don’t think she anticipated, but has done a wonderful job leading her team,” Letsinger said. “Hatty Hesemann has confidence and knowledge of the sport. I can count on her to see the other side of the court and strategize with her teammates about what has to be done. She’s the one who wants to be serving or hitting on that final set point.”
Senior Alexis Ruff gives New Covenant two returning setters. Ruff was a second-team all-conference selection last year. Ruff and Hesemann will again share setting duties.
“They (Ruff and Hesemann) shared playing time last season, so I am excited to watch them in action together on the court this season. Both of them bring different strengths to the team. Alexis is a hard worker, hustles after every ball, and is a steady player. Hatty is smart, a competitor, and loves the sport. With both of leading on the floor, I don’t have to worry things getting done,” Letsinger said.
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Newcomers to the varsity team this year include: Mia Ehlers (junior outside), Mallori McBurnie (sophomore defensive specialist) and Lydia Banwart (freshman back row).
Letsinger on Ehlers: “She was a varsity level player last year as a sophomore, but with so many seniors, she didn’t get as much playing on the varsity. Mia has a great swing, has improved on her blocking, and is ready to lead as an upperclassman this season.”
Letsinger on McBurnie: “She improved last season on her back row play and has stepped it up over the summer to earn her spot at the varsity level. She is a quick learner, a hard worker, and a steady player who encourages her teammates constantly.”
Letsinger on Banwart: “She is a solid back row player who is also developing her outside swing. She has bonded quickly with the girls and I know that she will make an impact this season and in seasons to come.”
The ability to adapt will be key for New Covenant after graduating such a deep senior group.
“I believe our biggest strength will be our ability to adapt. We lost six seniors last year, so we have had to make changes this season and the girls have done a wonderful job transitioning and filling in holes from last season,” Letsinger said. “One area that we are improving on, but still needs improvement is our defense at the net. Lily Auer is our returning middle who loves working at the net and pressuring the other team to hit around her. She is becoming more confident and I’m hoping to see her success spread to our other front row players.”
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The change to a best-of-five set format last year showed that the Lady Warriors will need to be stronger mentally.
“We have always been a pretty well-conditioned team physically, so that hasn’t changed much. One of the areas that we are working on is our mental game,” Letsinger said. “With the switch, we recognized that we were not as tough mentally as we needed to be with some of the games that went five sets. We are doing more mental drills this summer and throughout the season to help us prepare for those longer evenings.”
New Covenant will open the season on Aug. 27 at Everton.
“I am very proud of how this group of girls have stepped up this summer. After losing six seniors last season, I was expecting this year to be a little bit of a rebuilding season, but after seeing them work during the off-season I expect us to have good success with this upcoming year,” Letsinger said.
