By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Miller volleyball team will have an almost entirely new look this season, as the Cardinals say goodbye to a class of six seniors that rewrote the school record books.
The Cardinals went 124-15-8 and won four district titles during the Class of 2023’s tenure at the school, reaching the Final Four in each of the past three seasons.
They won it all in 2021 and followed that up with a runner-up finish last fall, with four players collecting all-state honors. But this year, Miller returns just one starter from that 31-5-2 campaign — a sophomore — and just two other players have any varsity experience.
But that’s not changing the team’s preparations — or expectations.
“We approach every season the same way, getting as many kids experience as possible to get them comfortable to the speed of varsity,” Miller coach Tamra Landers said. “With graduating six seniors, there will be growing pains just like in any program.”
Those graduates — Addison Stockton, Emberlynn Kingsley, Haylie Schnake, Lillie Ricketts, Alyssa Hill and Hailey Mart — accounted for more than 80 percent of Miller’s total kills, aces, digs and receptions last fall — and about 90 percent of its blocks and assists.
“They leave a great legacy behind as girls who love the game and work hard to achieve their goals,” Landers said, noting their departures create plenty of opportunities for this year’s Cardinals to make their own mark on the program’s rich history.
One of them got a head start last fall.
Ashlynn Helton played her way into the starting lineup as a freshman and finished third on the team in receptions, digs, blocks and kills. She also finished second in aces, earning all-conference and all-district honors.
She enters the season as the de facto leader of a team that will be gaining experience on the fly.
“She is a competitor,” Landers said of the now-sophomore. “No matter what sport, she wants to win. She is versatile and is able to play many positions. She’s had to do a little bit of everything this summer and she has embraced it and it has broadened her role.”
By the end of the season, classmates Camden Stockton and Rachel Nunez had played their way into the rotation — and made key contributions at the Final Four.
CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL OF OUR FALL SPORTS PREVIEWS
That high-pressure experience will suit them well as they take on more responsibilities this fall, with Camden Stockton poised to inherit the role of setter.
“We will look to her to be a leader on the team,” Landers said. “She always has a calming effect on the court and the players all look to her for guidance.”
Nunez, a middle hitter, is also embracing the opportunity to guide the Cardinals.
“She has become a real force at the net both offensively and defensively,” Landers said. “We will look to her to play six rotations and help provide leadership on the court.”
As Nunez becomes a six-rotation player, it opens the door for juniors Kaylee Thom, Lauryn Landers and Kendall Neely to make an impact.
“We will look to these three to step up and provide us with some options at the net,” Tamra Landers said. “In the offseason, they got in a lot of reps and adapted well to the speed of the game.”
Sophomores Loghann Leivan and Mavrie Pritchett are also expected to contribute in the front row.
“We will look to these two to step up and help provide an offensive and defensive threat at the net,” Tamra Landers said.
Thom and classmates Alexis Bailey, Meranda Gulick and Addison Forbis will anchor the Miller defense.
“Each of these girls got in a lot of reps this summer in the back row,” Tamra said. “We are looking for them to step up and provide us with the good passing and (defense) Miller volleyball is used to.”
The Cardinals are set to compete in the Verona Invitational on August 26.
Their home opener is five days later, when perennial power El Dorado Springs comes to town.
Miller’s first Southwest Conference action of the year will be a September 14 trip to Sarcoxie.
“I’m excited about seeing a whole new look of Miller volleyball,” Tamra Landers said.
