By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Following a decade of postseason dominance, Strafford volleyball underwent a bit of a rebuild in 2023.
The Indians posted a 16-11-4 record, falling to Rogersville in the district tournament.
“There were so many highlights to last year’s season that we will forever remember as a team and program,” head coach Ashley Bough said. “The team worked hard throughout the entire season to focus on getting better each day and became a really competitive team by the end of the year. We learned a lot about ourselves, what we can bring to the team and what we need to do to improve on this upcoming season.”
Heading into her 12th season at the Strafford helm, Bough has reason for optimism.
After losing a single starter to graduation, an eager group of returnees are set to lead the Indians’ attack this season.
Sophia Venosdel – Senior middle blocker
“Sophia has developed into a dynamic player over the last few years,” Bough said. “She has worked her tail off on the court and off to help herself be a big contributor to our team. Sophia has really worked hard to not only improve her game as a powerful attacker, but also expand her shot selection as well on the court.”
Halle Forester – Senior defensive specialist
“Unfortunately, Halle suffered an injury that required surgery, so she was not able to play with us this past season,” Bough said. “She brings with her a lot of court and sand experience, ball control and most importantly, a desire to compete and help those around her.”
Gracelynn Ford – Senior outside hitter
“Gracelynn is a returner to a varsity roster and brings consistency, hard work and ball control to this team,” Bough said. “Gracelynn is a great teammate and has worked hard to help the Indians be successful on and off the court.”
Aubrey Sute – Senior right-side hitter
“Aubrey is another varsity returner and she is an all-around solid player,” Bough said. “She brings ball control and court awareness to the court. She will do big things for the Indians this year.”
Elsie Larsen – Junior middle blocker
“Elsie was a big contributor last season as a six-rotation middle blocker on the court,” Bough said. “She has worked hard this off season to gain confidence and improve all around.“
Reese Darnell – Junior setter
“Reese led our offense this past season and we look forward to what she will bring this year,” Bough said. “She has grown so much over the past year and we look forward to her rising to the challenge.”
In addition to its returning corps, a host of varsity newcomers will compete for playing time this season, according to Bough.
“The Indians have a lot of depth this season including juniors Sydney Hane and Lizzy Vanhorn, who we look to help our program continue to be successful,” Bough said. “The sophomore and freshman classes have a ton of court experience and we are looking forward to the impact they will make in our program.”
With plenty of returning talent and experience, Bough believes Strafford will have the necessary pieces in place to compete on a nightly basis this season and pursue postseason success.
“We return several players and new players with a lot of volleyball experience this season which is exciting,” Bough said. “We are working on making it more efficient and diverse as a team. We also return players who played on the court last year and feel like they want to continue the tradition they have worked to build at Strafford. They are extremely motivated and determined to ensure a different outcome at the end of season.”
While Strafford’s offense ran primarily through the middle in 2023, Bough expects a much more diverse attack heading into the fall campaign as her hitters continue to develop.
“Our middle attackers were a key part of our offense last season,” Bough said. “We had the components and ball control to make that happen. We are going to really work on spreading out our offense this season and developing our attackers in every position to be big contributors. We have the tools, it’s finding the correct combination throughout the season.”
Following an Aug. 28 jamboree at Central, Strafford opens its season Aug. 31 in the Branson Varsity Tournament.
