By Chris Parker
Billings volleyball won 13 matches last season. The Lady Wildcats will look to increase that number with five players who saw action in a majority of sets last season returning.
Leading that group are a pair of all-conference seniors in Kenzie Clendenning and Ryleigh Gearing.
Clendenning is an outside hitter who earned second-team all-conference on the strength of 281 digs, 90 kills and 207 serve receptions.
“Kenzie is a well-rounded player,” Billings head coach Brandi Sillavan said. “She leads on the back row and front row. She is always one of our go-to hitters and a key role in serve receive.”
Gearing, who led the team in assists with 254 as a junior, was named honorable mention all-conference.
“Ryleigh brings the energy and hustle to the team,” Sillavan said. “Wherever that ball is, she gives it her all to go get it and redirect it back to where it needs to go.”
Lancey-Joe Bellamy (junior setter/hitter), Avery Clinton (junior outside/libero) and Kyla Essick (sophomore outside) round out the returning players.
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Sillavan on Bellamy: “Lancey brings high intensity and versatility with setting and being a threat on the front row.”
Sillavan on Clinton: “Avery brings the heart to the team. Every play she gives it her all and is our solid back row player.”
Sillavan on Essick: “This year Kyla will be stepping up to be one of our key scorers. We are looking forward to her speeding up our offense and scoring quickly off serve receive.”
Brook Collison (junior middle hitter), Georgia Vesci (sophomore outside/middle), Abby Harter (sophomore setter/outside) and Alexa Garbee (freshman setter/defensive specialist) are newcomers looking to make a varsity impact.
Overall, the lineup will be a flexible one.
“Our biggest strength this year will be our versatility,” Sillavan said. “We have a few girls that can step up and play many different roles. I think a key strength will be having a changing lineup all year round based on what our needs are for that game.”
Billings opens the regular season on Aug. 26 at the Verona Invitational.
“Expectations for this season will be to compete all the way through a match,” Sillavan said. “We have been in the habit of gaining a lead and then letting up, so that will be one focus. The other expectation this year will be to run a faster offense and run more serve-receive plays.”
