By Chris Parker
Southwest volleyball had its best season since 2018 last year with a 10-win campaign. The 10 wins matched the total of wins from 2020 to 2022. The Lady Trojans are poised to take another step forward with four players who saw action in every varsity set and another who played in all but seven varsity sets returning.
Those returning players are seniors Riley Flippo (outside hitter), Laura Henry (setter), Montana Skelton (outside hitter) and Kaleigh Tull (middle) along with junior Marissa Freeman.
“The four seniors (Henry, Tull, Skelton and Flippo) had tough years as freshmen and sophomores but broke through with 10 wins and three ties as juniors and lost several close matches,” Southwest head coach Steve Voyak said. “They, along with Freeman, have talent and experience, but can they take another step and win more matches? The four seniors are excited about their final season, but they will need to make some subtle changes in communication and energy to get different results.”
Voyak on Flippo: “Riley Flippo made a significant impact as a server and passer in reception as a junior. She served at a 95% clip and added 38 aces. She also had 177 receptions and 154 digs. She has earned a front row spot and will need to become more consistent with her attacking. Her speech and athleticism are assets.”
Voyak on Henry: “Laura Henry was all-conference and all-district as a junior. She led team in assists (494) and serve percentage (98.2% 345 for 351). She has missed just 13 serves in the last two seasons and improved her ace total to 30 last year. She is a strong leader but needs to become more vocal. She needs to improve her chemistry and consistency with hitters and make more of an impact defensively.”
Voyak on Skelton: “Montana Skelton makes the move from the right to the left side and should see more sets. She had 54 kills and six blocks as a junior and added 94 digs. She always brings a positive attitude and is always accepts coaching and criticism well. She needs to cut down on hitting and blocking errors to have more of an impact on wins and losses.”
Voyak on Tull: “Kaleigh Tull has made constant improvement each season as an undersized middle. She had 109 kills and 22 blocks as a junior. Kaleigh was part of many receive combinations during the summer and instantly became as solid passer and has a chance to play all six rotations. She has also improved her serving accuracy and made her ball more difficult to return after 30 aces as a junior. She leads by example.”
Voyak on Freeman: “Marissa Freeman led the team in kills (145) and aces (59) and became the team’s best hitter. Her big drawback is consistency as she had too many serving and hitting errors. She played club ball last season and worked to improve both those skills and her passing and blocking. Over the summer, she was one of our top back-row passers and receivers and has a chance to play all six rotations. She loves the game.”
Abi Hnem, Olivia Hnem, Rylee Hobbs, Emma Outhouse and Atley Uthe will be newcomers to the varsity level according to Voyak.
Voyak on Abi Hnem: “Abi Hmen did not seem phased by the jump from junior high to high school volleyball. Did a nice job defensively and in reception over the summer on the varsity. Has a real chance to be a defensive specialist for the varsity. Must improve her floor communication and intensity to take her game to the next level.”
Voyak on Olivia Hnem: “Oliva Hnem, Soph led the JV in receptions and digs as a freshman and did a nice job as a varsity libero this summer. She has improved her volleyball IQ and loves to be coached. She must become more confident, consistent and communicative to win the libero job. Her serve has also improved dramatically.”
Voyak on Hobbs: “Rylee Hobbs was the top hitter on the JV last season and made a quick impact when she filled in on the varsity in a few matches. She needs to understand her role and step up when called upon. She made nice strides in the summer hitting from both the right and left side but needs to be more consistent as a hitter to make an impact on the varsity.”
Voyak on Outhouse: “Emma Outhouse is a tireless worker who loves the game and shows flashes of breaking through as a varsity player. Led the JV in assists and serve percentage as a sophomore. Her serve has improved significantly over the summer.”
Voyak on Uthe: “Atley Uthe has boundless potential. She just needs to keeping learning the game. She has strong athleticism but needs to work on fundamentals to take the next step. Could make the varsity because her blocking skills.”
The SWCL was hit by the conference realignment dominoes with Billings, Spokane and Crane leaving for the newly formed Greater Ozarks Conference. That left Southwest, Blue Eye, Galena and Purdy as the only remaining members of the SWCL. There will be no conference champion crowned this year according to Voyak, but there will be an all-conference team.
Southwest hosts a jamboree on Aug. 27 with Hurley, Purdy and Wheaton. The Lady Trojans open the regular season on Aug. 31 at the Verona Invitational.
“We need to expect to win,” Voyak said. “During the last 10 games of the season and the district tournament, we did that last year and won seven games. We also played four strong sets against a solid Marionville before losing. We need to value every touch, every point, every set. Our seniors are ready to lead but they have to do more than the usual 110%. They need to take it up a notch.”
