By Chris Parker
Blue Eye has a new head volleyball coach in Alexis Mitchell this season. Mitchell was the head coach at Hollister from 2017-20. From 2020-23, Mitchell was an assistant coach on the Branson staff. Prior to that she played at the University of Tulsa.
Mitchell now returns home where she played in high school.
“To have the opportunity to coach for a program I played for feels very special. I have always been proud to be a Blue Eye Bulldog, and to be back home to such a supportive community is very exciting and such a blessing,” Mitchell said. “The culture at Blue Eye has always been to work hard and compete, night in and night out. I’m excited to be back and hopefully make just as great of an impact as it had on me. To be a coach means more than teaching athletes sports related skills to be successful, it’s preparing them for life. One day there will be a last game, and my hope is that I not only helped them become better volleyball players but helped them grow as young ladies as well.”
Blue Eye is coming off a six-win season, but Mitchell is hoping her team can improve that win total with a hard-working team.
“The biggest strength for the Blue Eye volleyball team will be their work ethic and desire to get better,” Mitchell said. “This group of athletes doesn’t give up and is going to leave it all on the court from start to finish. No matter the score or circumstance, I can count on them to give me their all and compete. They love to compete and push each other on the court to be better each rep. I have loved seeing them celebrate each other’s growth and success as well as their own.”
Kieryn Fairchild (senior setter/right side), Emmalee Litel (junior middle hitter) and Angelina Bettlach (junior setter/right side) are the returning players to watch. Fairchild led the team with 310 assists last season. Litel is the top returning hitter with 111 kills last season. Bettlach was secondo on the team in assist with 169 as a junior.
Mitchell on Fairchild: “As one of two seniors, I’m expecting great leadership from Kieryn. Kieryn is an all-around great player and teammate. She works very hard to get to every ball and puts it in a good position for our hitters. If the ball is near her, you can count on her to make a move to get the ball up. She is very level-headed, which is a great characteristic to have as a setter. I love the work ethic she has and I’m very excited to see her grow throughout the season.”
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Mitchell on Litel: “The one thing that stood out to me right away about Emmalee is that she is a competitor. She is not only going to push herself to be better, but she pushes her teammates as well. I love the intensity that she brings, and I believe that her teammates feed off that as well. She has been a big leader for us this summer and as one of the three that had varsity experience last season, we will be expecting big things from her in every aspect of the game. She is a very talented player, and I am excited to see her grow this season as a player. She is going to be exciting to watch.”
Mitchell on Bettlach: “I have really high expectations for Angelina this season. She will be playing a really big role for our team all the way around. Throughout the summer, it has been fun to see her grow and push herself outside of her comfort zone. She is a stellar athlete who continues to surprise me with her athletic abilities. Angelina is one I can always count on to get to a loose ball and better it for the next contact. She is a levelheaded and consistent player who I can count on to make smart decisions. I am very excited about Angelina, and I love the teammate she is and the energy she brings to this team.”
Raigan Crumb (sophomore outside hitter), Kylee Swopes (junior outside hitter), Chloe Kilgore (sophomore middle hitter) and Jenaya Keys (senior outside hitter) will be newcomers to watch.
Mitchell on Crumb: “She saw some varsity time towards the end of last season, but we will be expecting her to take on a greater role this year. Raigan is very eager to get better and is very coachable. She is a great teammate who brings a lot of positive energy to the gym. She’s put a lot of time in this summer, and I believe it is going to show going into season.”
Mitchell on Swopes: “Kylee moved into the district last year after season, so she will be a new face to the program. She will also be playing a big role in this year’s team. She’s a great athlete and has made good improvements over the summer. I’m excited to see how she continues to grow as a player over the course of the season.”
Mitchell on Kilgore: “I have really high expectations for Chloe going into the season. She will definitely be taking on a greater role at the varsity level this year. She is a very hard worker and brings great energy to the court. I love the intensity she brings when she plays, and her teammates really feed off of that. She is a steady player who I know will continue to grow and develop throughout the season.”
Mitchell on Keys: “Is one of our two seniors this year. Jenaya has put a lot of time in this summer to get better. She has a positive energy that she brings to her teammates, and I think that this energy can be really beneficial for the team.”
New will be a theme for this season’s Blue Eye volleyball team.
“There is a lot of new that will come for this year’s season,” Mitchell said. “New coaches, new system, new culture, and really a new team. With that comes a little bit of a learning curve, but we have been able to work through some of those things this summer and are making good strides in the direction we want to go. I know new can be hard, but I’ve been proud of how they have worked and how coachable they have been. We will continue to work to be our best in October.”
Blue Eye will open the regular season on Aug. 29 at home against Cassville.
“Our expectations for this team are high both on and off the court,” Mitchell said. “The Lady Bulldogs not only represent the volleyball program, but they are representing the community and their family and friends. We expect them to be a positive light wherever they are. We strive to get better every day, with every rep that we take so that we can be our best when it matters most, in October.”
