By Chris Parker
Lamar volleyball posted a sixth consecutive winning season last year with a 16-12 record. Four seniors including three all-conference selections graduated from that team. That included the leaders for kills, aces, blocks, digs, assists and serve receptions.
This year, Lamar will be reloading behind a group of eight returning players.
“While we graduated some strong players last year, we have a solid group of girls who have been working hard to develop their skills to fill the roles last year’s seniors left behind,” Lamar head coach Chelsie Griffin said.
That group of players includes: Ell Harris (senior), Victoria O’Neal (senior), Sophie Bronson (junior), Kynlee McCullouch (junior), Kayleigh Wolfe (junior), Keely Taffner (sophomore), Calli Harris (sophomore) and Rowan Parks (sophomore).
Harris saw action in 87 of 89 sets last year and had 92 kills.
“She (Harris) is a six-position player who plays outside hitter and is one of our strongest servers. I look for her to lead this year on the court,” Griffin said.
O’Neal plays opposite. She played in 76 varsity sets in 2022.
“I look for Victoria to be a leader as well, especially in attitude and energy on the court,” Griffin said.
Bronson played outside hitter last year but will move to MB this year. McCulloch was a varsity setter in 2022 with 308 assists. She returns to that position this season. Wolfe will move from defensive specialist to libero. Taffner (MB/OPP), Calli Harris (OH/OPP) and Parks will move up from JV to varsity this season.
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The team will have to work together to be successful with players adapting to new roles.
“I think, and hope, our biggest strength this year will be to work as a team and stay positive on the court,” Griffin said. “I think the team learned the importance of mental toughness in volleyball last year and want to learn from their mistakes. We are also a pretty young team, so I look for us to continue to develop and get better throughout the season.”
Youth will be an early obstacle to overcome.
“We are a pretty young team, and several players have no varsity experience,” Griffin said. “The majority of these players have also not played together before. Right now, we need to work on individual skills and communication.”
Lamar opens the regular season on Aug. 29 at Aurora.
“I expect us to have a winning season even though we are young and lost our stat leaders,” Griffin said. “The team felt what it was like to have success and make it to a district championship, and I think they are ready to work hard to get there again.”
