By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Nixa volleyball posted a 29-8 record in 2022, falling in the district final to eventual Class 5 runner-up Kickapoo.
All-state graduates Norah Clark and Emma Conrad moved on from the program.
“I’m extremely proud of the 2022 season,” longtime head coach Annie Zimmerman said. “While I wish the outcome of our last game vs Kickapoo could have been different, I was proud of the growth we had over the course of the season.”
A pair of seniors step up to lead the Eagles this season in Jacy Bray and Paige Pearcy.
Bray, a 5-foot-7 setter, recorded 1,025 assists last season and could reach the 2,000 threshold for her career. She received all-district and all-conference honors as a junior and is a University of Texas-Arlington commit.
“[Bray] is a competitor,” Zimmerman said. “She plays the game with unmatched intensity and utilizes every ounce of athleticism she has.”
Pearcy, a 5-foot-4 libero, finished the 2022 season with 229 digs.
“Things I appreciate about Paige…Her speed and energy on the court,” Zimmerman said. “She will be competing for the libero position this season. I look for her experience and consistency to be a valuable asset to our team.”
Juniors Chloe Judd and Amelia White also return to the varsity rotation.
Judd, a 6-foot middle blocker, is Nixa’s current varsity leader with 67 recorded blocks. She received all-district honors as a sophomore.
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“[Judd] wants the ball,” Zimmerman said. “No matter how big the moment or high-pressure the situation, she wants to be the one to score the big points.”
White, a 5-foot-7 outside hitter, finished the 2022 campaign with 244 digs and 37 aces.
“Last year [White] primarily played defense in the back row,” Zimmerman said. “That experience should help her transition to a 6-rotation player this season. She has a solid skill set and pays attention to detail in her training, making her effective no matter what her role is on the court.”
Zimmerman expects several newcomers to make immediate impacts to the varsity roster, including 6-foot-3 senior middle blocker Ava Owens, 5-foot-8 senior defensive specialist Mayci Routh, 5-foot-7 sophomore defensive specialist/outside hitter Addy Bybee, 5-foot-11 sophomore outside/middle hitter Gwen Kubik and 5-foot-8 sophomore right side/setter Taylor Wood.
With a host of new faces on the roster, Zimmerman anticipates an early-season learning curve for her squad.
“Returning only four players from our varsity team last year, it will take time to determine player roles and there will undoubtedly be some growing pains,” Zimmerman said. “However, if our players will embrace the competitive environment we create in our gym each day, I think we have the ability to do some pretty special things. We will be trying lots of different options early and hope to be settled into an established rotation by mid season.”
While Nixa may be relatively inexperienced heading into the season, Zimmerman believes her team’s versatility will allow it to compete on a daily basis.
“Our goal will be to run the most balanced offense possible…multiple hitters on the front row that can score so opponents cannot key on just one or two players,” Zimmerman said. “We have several players who can play multiple positions which gives us a lot of line up options to work with.”
Following an Aug. 23 jamboree at Ozark with Kickapoo and the host team, Nixa will open its regular season Aug. 26 at home against Fayetteville, Ark.
