By Chris Parker
Hollister volleyball will be a more experienced team entering head coach Molly Terry’s second season coming off a nine-win campaign.
“The biggest difference in our team this year compared to last year is a tremendous increase in varsity experience and volleyball IQ,” Terry said. “Last year, only two players had previous varsity experience. This year, every player played varsity last year and knows the pace of the game at that level. We also increased our overall volleyball IQ and quickly bought into our system of how things are done. Fundamental basics are understood on a deeper level and our chemistry is already established.”
Leading hitter Paige Hurley returns for her junior season after she put down 175 kills on the way to honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
“Paige’s greatest asset is her competitiveness. She hates to lose and always wants the ball when the game is on the line. She does not shy away from big opportunities,” Terry said. “As a junior, Paige will be expected to be a leader both on and off the court. She led us in kills last year and will likely find herself in that same role this season. She is a six-rotation player that can be a threat from both front row and back row.”
Olivia Williams, Gracyn Jones, Isabella Dopko, Ellanna Newell, Kingsley Tiefry-Morland, Kelly Garceau and Isabella Parrish also return to the varsity lineup.
Terry on Williams: “Olivia Williams is our senior setter. She has been a varsity setter since her sophomore year and has an amazing work ethic. She is the player that works the hardest in the weight room, and she will do any role for her team that helps them win. And she will do that role with a fantastic attitude. This year she will add the role of possibly being a hitter in addition to setting.”
Terry on Jones: “Gracyn Jones is our sophomore setter. Last year as a freshman she stepped up in all areas as she led us in digs, assists, and aces. She is a competitor who has a high volleyball IQ and will do anything to help her team win. She reads extremely well and has soft arms on defense. This season she will be a part of running our offense again.”
Terry on Dopko: “Isabella Dopko is our senior right-side player. She was an all-district honorable mention last season and was second on the team in kills. This season she may play a different position based on what needs we have, but she is extremely versatile and can hit from anywhere on the front row.”
Terry on Newell: “Ellanna Newell is our sophomore middle hitter. Ellanna made a huge impact for us last year as a freshman and has only improved over this past offseason. Last year, she led us in solo blocks, and this season we look for her to have a bigger role in our offense. She is also developing into a six-rotation player and is very reliable defensively.”
Terry on Tiefry-Morland: “Kingsley Tiefry-Morlang is our senior middle/outside hitter. Last season, she led us in block assists as a middle. This season, she may move to the outside or the right side, as she is capable of being a threat anywhere on the front row.”
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Terry on Garceau: “Kelly Garceau is our senior defensive specialist. Last year, she played any position that was needed based on the lineup and this season she will primarily play defensive specialist or libero. Being a multi-sport athlete, Kelly has quick reflexes that she developed in softball, and she uses those reflexes to dig a lot of 50/50 balls. She reads very well and isn’t afraid to get on the floor.”
Terry on Parrish: “Isabella Parrish is our junior defensive specialist. Last year, she played outside but this season will make the switch to libero or defensive specialist. Last season, she was second in aces and third in digs but had to miss some of the season due to injuries. When she’s on the court she makes an impact, so we are looking forward to having her healthy this season.”
Sophomore Madeline Blackwood along with freshmen Cambree Hodges, Balla Cavins and Alyssa Danielson will be newcomers on the varsity roster.
Overall, this year’s roster brings a good chemistry and depth.
“Our biggest strength this year will be our team chemistry and a higher volleyball IQ,” Terry said. “We lost two seniors off last year’s team and gained a very athletic, competitive freshman class. We are deeper in every position and have more options, however we return 90% of our varsity that have already established a good chemistry together.”
Terry will look for this more experienced group to show more mental toughness.
“Our biggest area where we need to see improvement is in our mental toughness,” Terry said. “Volleyball is a fantastic sport that allows you to regroup and start again after each set. We need to learn from previous sets and carry that knowledge over to make immediate adjustments throughout the match.”
Hollister will travel to Springfield Central for a jamboree on Aug. 23 with the host Bulldogs, Strafford and Lebanon. The Tigers open the regular season on Aug. 29 at home against Clever.
“Our expectations for this season are to compete in every match as a team, have high expectations for ourselves both on and off the court, and be playing our best volleyball by mid-October,” Terry said.
