By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Head Coach Amber Barkley will lead the Waynesville Lady Tigers in her fourth year at the helm; they move into the competitive Central Ozark Conference following a six-win season.
Three-year letter winner and all-conference, all-district standout Breona Hurd graduated, and the team will miss her size and athleticism.
Waynesville will return three starters from last year’s team: juniors Kynleigh Barkley, Zetalyn Mansapit and Taylor Miller, each a varsity letter winner since entering as freshmen. Kynleigh and Taylor received honorable mention all-conference and all-district honors last season. “They are all athletic kids who have put a lot of time and effort into improving their skills,” said Barkley.
Taylor will continue to play middle and will play all the way around again this year. “She is a super positive, consistent kid who will give you everything she has every night,” Coach Barkley said. “We expect her to be a vocal leader for us. Last year, she led us in blocks, was second in aces and third in kills and digs.”
Kynleigh will return to an outside position. “She is a dynamic player that has really improved her vertical and athleticism in the past year,” said Coach Barkley. “She is another vocal leader on the court and is one of the most competitive kids in our gym. She led us in digs and serve receive last year and was second in kills.”
Zetalyn will continue to set and swing right side for the Lady Tigers. “She is a super athletic, quiet kid that leads by example,” said Barkley. “She is undersized but makes up for that with her ability to jump out of the gym and reads the court well. She led us in aces and assists last season.”
All three are expected to be six-rotation players. “I’m really looking forward to watching these girls lead our team,” said Coach Barkley. “The commitment to growing and improving Waynesville volleyball from these three has been exciting to watch. They are willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to be successful.”
New faces will also be battling to earn spots on the court. Seniors Mariah Palmer and Asia Frazier could both contribute in a few places. Mariah is a defensive specialist/libero. “She has the ability to play any position in the back row and is a great defensive player,” said Barkley. Asia will play right side or middle. “She is an athletic kid that could help us out in a variety of roles.”
Juniors Jaylee Gettys, Calley McCall, and Madison Mulholland, as well as freshman Alayna Barkley, have all been working hard to earn places in the rotations.
Jaylee Gettys is a setter who “works really hard and has great hands,” per her coach. “She is always working to improve and is willing to stay after with hitters to help work on the setter/hitter connection.”
Calley McCall “is another hard worker who is shifting from playing middle to right side,” said Barkley. “She has embraced the change and will find ways to help us out because she wants to win.”
Madison Mulholland is an outside position player. “She is a consistent kid who brings a lot of positives to the team,” said Barkley. “She is committed to helping our team get better every day.”
Alayna Barkley, middle, “is an athletic kid with a very heavy arm swing and great ball control,” per her coach. “She has played a lot of high-level volleyball in the offseason and will be a positive addition to our team.”
“We are excited about this group and their potential,” said Barkley. “With Waynesville being a military school, there is always the possibility of transfers and new faces once we start tryouts in August.”
Barkley said that her team’s goal this year is improvement. “The last two seasons have been a bit of rebuilding, and our progress hasn’t always shown in the win column. I think we have the ability to show more progress in terms of wins and losses. This group has a fight and competitiveness that will help us in every match we play.”
“There are a lot of really great volleyball programs, and I look forward to being able to compete with the best,” said Coach Barkley. “Our goal is to get better every day we are in the gym, whether that is practice or a match, and I’m excited to see what this group can accomplish.”
The Lady Tigers will jamboree Aug. 27 at Rolla High School vs. Rolla and Washington.
