By Chris Parker
Pleasant Hope volleyball returns an experienced core featuring six players who saw action in at least 66 of 68 sets last season and a seventh who played in 28 sets.
The experience gained last season has forged a strong bond among the returning players.
“Our biggest strength is the culture on our team,” Pleasant Hope head coach Ashlee Pulley said. “We are truly a family. They have had to build what we have from the ground up and have really learned to lean on and trust one another. We have a group of girls that are not only talented athletes, but they are wonderful people. Some of the most coachable kids I have ever come across.”
Senior setter and outside hitter Gracie Wolf is the lone returning all-conference player. She led the Pirates in kills (142), digs (291) and serve receptions (288) as a junior.
“Graci brings a level of leadership that is going to be felt when she is gone,” Pulley said. “She sets the pace for our team and while setting is a new position to her, she has stepped into the role with grace and is always striving to be better. She led our team in both digs and kills last season and I anticipate that she will make a big impact on the front row as well both in blocking and kills.”
The other returning players include: Chloe Hendrickson (senior outside hitter), Mackenzie Hamilton (senior defensive specialist), Lexi Perryman (junior middle hitter/blocker), Arwen Mehl (junior setter), Kenzie Bader (junior middle hitter) and Loraine Arciniegas (sophomore libero).
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Pulley on Hendrickson: “Chloe is a six-rotation player who I can always count on to work hard and be a positive influence to other players. She is coming off of a bad ankle sprain in late summer, but she brings consistency everywhere she is on the floor. She is one of my most consistent servers as well.”
Pulley on Hamilton: “’Mack’ is our spark on the floor. She brings so much energy and heart to the table. At only 5’1”, she is an excellent back row attacker and has really found her way in defensive coverage this summer. I can always count on her to be a leader on the floor and to hustle for everything on the back row.”
Pulley on Perryman: “Lexi is also a six-rotation player who is just athletic everywhere she plays. She led our team in blocks last year as a sophomore, and I only see that improving this year. She has an excellent vertical, and we are looking to get the ball to her more this year from an attacking perspective. She has really transitioned to a leadership role this summer as an upperclassman and will be a dynamic player in every rotation.”
Pulley on Mehl: “Arwen is a returning setter at the varsity level. She is a hard worker and is always looking to improve. This summer she has spent a ton of time fine tuning her sets to ensure she is able to provide consistency for her front row. She cares deeply about the game, and it shows on the court. She also typically is our starting server due to her consistency in that role.”
Pulley on Bader: “Kenzie is a returning middle hitter. She has gained a tremendous amount of confidence this summer and is looking forward to establishing a dominant presence in the middle this season. She has grown a lot and may see some time as a back row player as well at times. Her coachability is something to be praised as well.”
Pulley on Arciniegas: “Loraine came up last season and seen some varsity time in crucial moments late in the season. This summer she has really stepped up and been a key player for us in the back row. She is quick and is not afraid to get on the floor for a ball. I can always count on her to be extremely scrappy and look forward to seeing her put it in action this season.”
Improving strength and endurance will be important for Pleasant Hope volleyball.
“One of the areas I hope to improve on is our strength and endurance,” Pulley said. “As an overall program at Pleasant Hope, we are working toward our athletes being faster, stronger, and tougher. In preseason, we are going to be doing a lot of work in their overall athleticism. Even if we don’t get the win, I want to know that it was not due to our inability to keep up in speed, endurance or grit.”
Pleasant Hope will travel to Pierce City for a jamboree on Aug. 22 with the host Eagles, Ash Grove and East Newton before opening the regular season at Everton.
“I anticipate us to have a decent year overall and win more games than last year,” Pulley said. “We are playing a decent schedule and after putting a lot of time in this summer we hope to go at least .500 this year.”
