By Chris Parker
Reeds Spring volleyball has won 16 matches in back-to-back seasons giving the Lady Wolves five straight seasons at or above .500. The team will look to get better at closing out matches to stack even more wins this season.
“We are fortunate to have a challenging schedule and to be in a tough conference like the Big 8. Last year, in many of the games we lost, we were going four or five sets in those matches. Very rarely were we getting swept by a team. For us to take those matches this year, we will need to develop the mental toughness necessary to win those games,” Reeds Spring volleyball head coach Addison Berry said.
A pair of honorable mention all-conference players in Hannah Rogers and Shelby Evans return for the Lady Wolves.
Rogers earned her all-conference honor as a setter in her junior season. She handed out 692 assists.
“Last year, Hannah was getting used to the new responsibility of setting at the varsity level. With Hannah’s experience, she has developed good connections with our hitters to where there is a lot of trust between her and the other players on the floor,” Berry said. “Going into Hannah’s senior year, we expect her to continue to be a positive leader and a good decision-maker. In the offseason, she has become more comfortable being the playmaker on the floor and running a faster offense, which we hope will continue into the season. We also expect her to be a more aggressive setter from the front row and be a weapon herself.”
Rogers will return to her setter position but also see some time hitting.
Evans was second on the team in kills with 224 last season. She was Reeds Spring’s most efficient hitter with a .262 hitting percentage.
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This season, Evans will have an even bigger attacking role with the graduation of last year’s leading hitter Kennedy Brown.
“After the graduation of Kennedy, we know going into this season that Shelby has now taken on a more substantial role as our returning outside hitter. Shelby has always been an extremely consistent hitter and had our highest hitter percentage last year. Going into this season, we expect Shelby to continue to be an aggressive hitter and a wise decision-maker. She will be just as much of a threat this year as last year,” Berry said. “Shelby is a calm player, and she doesn’t make many mistakes. She is very focused on the court and gets stuff done efficiently. We want her to keep that same mentality this season and start to take on a leadership role.”
Evans will play all six rotations this season.
“Over this summer, Shelby has transitioned to a six-rotation player and has done very well,” Berry said. “Although she is a phenomenal outside hitter, what she contributes to our defense is just as valuable as what she brings to the front row.”
Senior Reece Hopper returns to a new position this season. She was the team’s libero last year, but will move to the outside this season.
“Reece Hopper was our libero last year and has always been a player I can count on in any position,” Berry said. “We are looking at her as our other outside this season, where she will be a consistent player on the front and back row.”
Harley Watson returns to the middle for her senior year.
“We expect her (Watson) to continue to be a fast and dynamic middle that can hold the blockers and give pin hitters the ability to get some one on ones,” Berry said.
Cailyn Kite (junior) and Neeley Hime (senior) will serve in libero or defensive specialist roles.
“These two bring a lot of positive energy and are prominent communicators on the team,” Berry said. “We expect them to continue consistently giving us good passes to keep us in system.”
Senior Addison Stull along with junior Leah Irvin and sophomores Kylie Fitzwater and Brooklyn Fuller will join the varsity roster this season.
The returning players and varsity newcomers have developed a strong rapport.
“They are a very close group and have some outstanding team chemistry,” Berry said. “They get along very well, and they are all on the same page about what goals we want to achieve as a team.”
Reeds Spring will travel to Willard for a jamboree with the host Tigers, Springfield Catholic and El Dorado Springs. The Lady Wolves open the regular season on Aug. 26 at the Branson Tournament.
“The ultimate goal is to win games and win districts, but we want to ensure that the girls also have fun while competing and get excited about the big plays and the little ones,” Berry said. “We also know that errors are inevitable in volleyball, so we want to play at the highest level possible and find our way out of lulls quickly.”
