By Chris Parker
Hollister volleyball won 15 matches for the first time since 2019 last year. The Tigers will look for even more success this season with three players who earned postseason honors in 2023 returning.
The returning players bring versatility to the court.
“Our biggest strength this year will be our competitiveness and our determination to get better every day,” Hollister head coach Molly Terry said. “This group doesn’t settle for playing well, they want to be pushed to get better with each practice and match. This is also a very versatile group. All of our varsity players can play six rotations and play multiple positions. We will have lots of options in our lineup and can mix things up to see what works best for the team.
Paige Hurley is the team’s lone senior this season. She led the Tigers in kills (222), digs (200), and serve receptions (443) on her way to all-conference and all-district honors as a junior.
“She (Hurley) is a six-rotation outside hitter and a four-year varsity starter. She has been our kill leader for the past two seasons and was our dig leader last season,” Terry said. “She brings a high, intense level of competitiveness to our team. She is our floor leader and someone who the younger players look up to.”
Juniors Ellanna Newell, Gracyn Jones and Madeline Blackwood round out the returning upperclassmen.
Newell, a middle hitter, led Hollister in total blocks with 37 last season and was second in kills with 131.
“She (Newell) is a dynamic middle who can play six rotations and be a primary passer,” Terry said. “She has been a varsity starter since her freshman year. We are looking for her to be dominant at the net and expand her hitting options.”
Jones is the team’s setter who had a team-high 335 assists last season. She is also a weapon serving with 62 aces last season.
“She (Jones) has been a varsity starter since her freshman year. She has been our ace leader for the last two seasons and is on pace to be the all-time ace leader in Hollister volleyball history,” Terry said. “She has a high volleyball IQ and is really working on pushing the tempo of our offense. We expect her to run an effective, quick offense and expand her attacking opportunities.”
Blackwood, a right side hitter, had 93 kills last season.
“Madeline puts up a strong block on the right side and has really improved her shot selection on hitting,” Terry said. “She can attack from anywhere on the court and can be a threat from the front row and back row.”
Sophomore Bella Cavins, an outside hitter, also returns after playing a big varsity role as a freshman. She had 95 kills while playing all 89 sets last season.
“She (Cavins) was a varsity starter last year as a freshman and we are looking to her to take on a bigger role during her second year on varsity,” Terry said. “She is a six-rotation, primary passer player who has a great vertical and can really mix up her shot selection.”
Sophomores Cambree Hodges (setter/opposite hitter) and Alyssa Danielson (libero) both saw plenty of varsity action last season and will get even more this season.
Terry on Hodges: “She lettered varsity last year as a service specialist and outside hitter but will take on a setter position this year. She can hit, set, serve, serve receive, block, and play defense at a high level. She has improved every year and is always asking for more ways to be more effective. We expect her to run an efficient offense and be an offensive threat as a hitter.”
Terry on Danielson: “She will be our voice and spark on the back row. She will be a primary passer and our floor mop. She comes in with the mentality that every ball is diggable and she can get a hand on every ball. She has a contagious hustle mentality and communicates well.”
Dreanna Kingore is a transfer sophomore outside/middle hitter who will make an immediate varsity impact.
“Dreanna has the ability to play multiple positions,” Terry said. “She may be an outside or a middle for us and is capable of playing six rotations. She impressed us this summer in the weight room with her work ethic and attitude and we expect big things out of her.”
Hollister will travel to Central for a jamboree on Aug. 28 with Strafford, Lebanon and the host Bulldogs. The Tigers open the regular season on Sept. 3 at home against Parkview.
“Our overall expectation for this season is to compete in every match and be playing our best volleyball in October,” Terry said. “We have talked about our team goals at the beginning of the summer and two things we are focusing on are to win 20-plus games and to win a district championship.”
