By Chris Parker
Licking volleyball has a new head coach in veteran Tammy Miller. Miller has won more than 600 matches in her career covering stops in Mountain Grove, Rogersville and Rolla.
She left coaching after the 2020 season but is glad to be back on the sidelines.
“I love coaching, it’s a passion of mine and it’s where I believe my true God-giving calling is at,” Miller said. “I gave up coaching to go back home to be with my family. My mom got sick, and I felt the Lord leading me to help my family out. She has since had a liver transplant and is doing unbelievably well.”
She takes over a program that has won at least 20 matches in six straight seasons and is coming off a 23-11-3 campaign.
On the court, one of the area’s top returning hitters in Hannah Medlock returns to lead Licking. Medlock put down 416 kills in her junior season.
“She (Medlock) is a very athletic, explosive and a very versatile hitter,” Miller said. “I expect her to lead by example of working hard, being a play leader both offensively and defensively as she has a high IQ for the game. She has a lot of ability to be a very dominant player both offensively and defensively. She’s very aggressive at the net and wants the ball.”
Allie Hock (junior middle/OH), Ralee Clayton (junior DS/OH), Riley Moloney (senior setter), Finley Sullins (senior OH/MH), Linzie Wallace (junior setter), Zoey Dawson (junior outside hitter), Josie Wells (junior outside hitter/right side), Aubrey Gorman (junior defensive specialist/outside hitter) and Allie Medlock (junior right side).
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Miller on Hock: “extremely athletic, moves well, very competitive, wants to improve her game. Her team will expect great things from her both offensively and defensively.”
Miller on Clayton: “great ball control, does a good job defensively reading the opponents.”
Miller on Moloney: “great leader and very competitive. Has a good understanding of the game and will do whatever she needs to do to make our team better. She is a very good defender and is learning to distribute the ball effectively.”
Miller on Sullins: “inexperienced but explosive, hardworking, competitive and will surprise a lot of people this fall.”
Miller on Wallace: “little hustler, leader, competitive, has a good understanding of the game, wants to make her team better and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
Miller on Dawson: “very controlled player, who is defensively minded, but is very much becoming an offensive person who will be able to create shots that will be helpful to our team this fall.”
Miller on Wells: “is coming into her own as of late this summer. She has worked really hard at becoming an offensive threat by increasing her shots.”
Miller on Gorman: “athletic, explosive, does a great job reading the opponents offensive schemes. Offensively she is powerful.”
Miller on Allie Medlock: “extremely hard worker, who has worked hard this summer to increase her knowledge of the game. She is a lefty that will mix up her shots.”
Sophomore Jadyn Barnes was going to have a big impact, but she will miss the season due to injury.
“They are extremely competitive and love to win. Their community expects excellence of their school both academically and athletically,” Miller said. “We are working at becoming a ‘whole’ team, learning the game at a higher level and knowing what it takes to play at a high level the entire match.”
Licking will travel to Mountain Grove for a jamboree on Aug. 24. The Wildcats open the regular season on Aug. 28 at Liberty.
“Just like all of my teams, our goal is to be playing our very best at the end of October and make a postseason run,” Miller said.
