By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Logan-Rogersville volleyball enjoyed another successful season in 2023.
The Wildcats posted a 16-15-3 record, falling to Clever in the district championship.
Heading into the fall campaign this season, Rogersville will look to replace a talented group of graduated seniors, including all-state honoree Olivia Chapman.
The program will also welcome a new, yet familiar head coach to the sidelines in former assistant Logan Beach.
“This season I expect to see all of our girls competing and vying for spots across all levels of our program,” Beach said. “I want to see each and every player to be competing so hard with one another, that we meet a level of competitiveness as well as comradery. I expect to see a team of girls that not only work and play hard for their own time, but for the time of their sisters as well.”
A quartet of upperclassmen return to lead the Wildcats this season in Addison Goff, Taylor Wray, Hailey Buckman and Kamryn Marshall.
Goff, a senior setter, recorded 398 assists, 11 aces, 22 blocks and 126 last season.
“Addie played in 49 sets last season and ran a 5-1 for us offensively before she went down with a shoulder injury,” Beach said. “She did make a return in districts where she played outside after we had another injury late in the year. This season, we are so excited to watch Addie return to the court as both a setter and attacker which she has proven to be consistent and reliable all summer long.”
Wray, a junior libero, finished the season with 12 aces, 399 digs and 317 serve receptions. She is on pace to eclipse 1,000 career digs this season.
“Taylor played in all 101 sets last season as the libero,” Beach said, “This summer, we have really worked on helping Taylor level up her game from where she was at the end of last year. Taylor has changed her game so much over the past few months, and we are beyond ecstatic to see how it continues to grow this coming season.”
Buckman, a junior middle blocker, notched 102 kills and 69 blocks during her sophomore season.
“Hailey was a huge presence for us at the net last year, and has proven that she is an even better blocker this summer than she was in the fall,” Beach said. “We are excited to see her offensive game expand, and she is our lone returning attacker.”
Marshall, a junior setter, finished with 11 blocks, 199 digs and 486 assists last season.
“Kamryn was running a 6-2 last year when she got thrown into a 5-1 on the varsity level after Addie Goff went down with a shoulder injury,” Beach said. “Luckily for Kamryn, her first varsity games took place in a tournament where she could work on connecting with her hitters for an entire day right in the middle of the season. This summer, she has also refined her game tremendously to match our desired tempo and flow.”
Rogersville will also feature a host of varsity newcomers looking to compete for varsity minutes, including Madelyn Wilson, Carlee Gwenapp, Chloe Parker, Addison Hammond, Jacy Holmes and Paige Algren.
“Heading into this season, I would say this group’s most apparent strength is their hunger and coachability,” Beach said. “They want to put aside what they know, get uncomfortable, and get better. As far as a rotation, there is a large chance that players will shift and change positions for us this season. One of our main themes is that we teach everyone to be a volleyball player first, and a position second. Therefore, we will be seeing different players in different positions throughout the season.”
With Goff returning from injury and joining Marshall at the setter position, Rogersville once again has the option to effectively run both 6-2 and 5-1 rotations. Both setters could reach the 1,000 assist career mark this season.
“Having two setters that have proven themselves this summer, and last season, has been a godsend,” Beach said. “Addie is the most athletic kid in almost any gym she steps foot in, and can be a huge threat as a blocker, attacker and setter. Kamryn has a demeanor that is often unmatched. She is quiet, hardworking and incredibly competitive. With these two girls leading our attack, we will have plenty of offensive firepower.”
Thanks to already having a distinct familiarity with the squad’s talent and tendencies, Beach has been able to circumvent a great deal of the first-year learning curve this summer.
“Heading into this season, I have loved seeing our defense willing to make plays and adjust to my system,” Beach said. “Moving our libero from middle back to left has been huge for us, as our libero now gets to make those great plays that we know they are capable of. Additionally, having the ability to add and attack from the back row has given us another weapon to work with and we are very excited to see how much it continues to improve.”
Following an Aug. 27 jamboree at Republic, Rogersville opens its season Sep 3 at home against Ozark.
