Posted: Tuesday, 27 August 2013 1:48PM
Glendale volleyball confident in young roster
Glendale returns everyone from last year’s youthful 15-12-2 squad. Although the Lady Falcons will again be one of the area’s younger teams, they boast a battled-tested roster.
“The girls are really excited about this season and to get games started,” said head coach Stephanie Bates. “Their whole mindset is different from last year. When we traveled last year they didn’t know what to expect, or tradition or anything like that. This year they know that. They are so much more comfortable and at ease. It is night and day from last year.”
The Lady Falcons lone senior on this year’s squad is all-conference performer Rachel Lee.
Lee racked up 322 digs on the court, in addition to providing leadership for the young squad.
In 2013, Bates expects much of the same from her senior.
“Last year was her first year being a captain and she was thrown into that leadership role, which isn’t always easy,” said Bates. “She’s played varsity for four years and knows the ins and outs. She knows what our tradition and Glendale Volleyball is all about. She wants to have the best season she possibly can because she’s a senior and this is it for her.”
Bates also returns a pair of first-team All-Ozark Conference sophomores in Emma Brand and Kelsey Larsen.
The duo received a trial by fire last year by being pushed into key starting positions as freshmen.
“Those girls got a lot of game experience last year,’ said Bates. “Kelsey and Emma set and play middle, and that’s two huge positions on any court, for any team. For them to have to play those positions is pretty intense, they touch every ball. You can’t have an off game in those positions or your team suffers.”
The Lady Falcons will also receive key contributions from honorable mention all-conference sophomore Jane Kickham, as well junior Kennedy Graves and sophomores Jenna Sorensen and Helen Halter.
As part of the tradition Coach Bates has established at Glendale, the Lady Falcons will play an extremely challenging schedule that features preconference matchups with Ozark and Nixa.
“We like to go out and schedule teams that are tough,” said Bates. “My job as a coach is push kids beyond what they think they can do; you want them to play at the highest level they can. You’re only going to get that through good competition and strong tournaments. Southwest Missouri is a hotbed for volleyball, and if you’re not ready to play on a given night you’ll get beat.”
Glendale opens the 2013 season on Aug. 30 at Waynesville, it will also be their Ozark Conference opener.
