By Kai Raymer
After its best season in nearly two decades, major changes are ahead for the Willow Springs volleyball program this fall – on the court and on the sideline.
The Bears lost two major pieces to graduation in co-captains Grace Bailey and Cassidy Crewse. Bailey led the Bears in kills (191) and blocks (78), while Crewse was second in kills (173) and first in digs (286).
They were a major part of a Willow Springs team that surpassed the 20-win mark for the second straight season and reached the district finals for the first time in 17 years, where the Bears fell in straight sets to eventual final four participant Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty.
Willow Springs will also have a new person calling the shots this season.
Megan James, who played volleyball for the Bears and graduated from the school in 2007, takes over for the retired Valarie Jackson, who might’ve been the longest-tenured coach in the area.
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Jackson was Willow Springs’ head volleyball coach for 26 seasons. James was an assistant coach at Monett High School from 2012-15 and joined Jackson’s staff last season.
“(Jackson) had many years of coaching expertise and it was a unique opportunity to play for her and then come back and coach with her,” James said. “Coach Jackson had a strong focus on defense and I want to continue to build on that foundation. My goal is to identify player strengths and talents and implement a strategy that will push (our) volleyball program to compete at a high level.”
While Bailey and Crewse are gone, everyone else is back for Willow Spring. The Bears are trying to maintain an upward trend; they’ve improved their win total each season since a four-win campaign in 2011.
Four seniors are expected to serve as the foundation of this year’s squad: Liliya Dudko (MH), Kameron Woody (OH), Kaitlyn Perkins (DS/OH) and Jessica Miller (OH). All four played in 66 or more of the team’s 71 sets last season.
Dudko (64 kills, 62 blocks) posted the second-most blocks on the team last season and figures to have increased offensive production this fall while serving as a team leader. Miller (143 kills) and Woody (124 kills) had the most kills among Willow Springs’ returning players.
“(Dudko) has an impressive vertical and has put in a lot of time in the offseason to improve as a hitter,” James said. “(Woody) is a very athletic player. She is a great defender and a smart hitter at the net. (Miller) is a strong outside hitter. She has the ability to hit both in the middle and outside and we expect her to help lead our offense this season.”
Perkins ran the team’s offense as setter last season, finishing with 487 assists. She’s expected to shift to a defensive specialist role this season (Perkins had 136 digs last season) while contributing occasionally as a hitter.
“Kaitlyn’s defensive effort is a huge part of what makes our team successful,” James said.
Perkins and Woody were named Honorable Mention All-SCA in 2016.
Tessa Duddridge emerged as the team’s libero last season and finished with 209 digs, second to only Crewse.
“Tessa is an excellent passer and reads the court well,” Duddridge said. “She will play a huge role in our defensive effort this season.”
Two new names to watch are sophomores Kassidy Brotherton (S) and Emily Daniels (MH).
Brotherton showed promise as the JV setter last season. Daniels will try to fill some of the production lost to Bailey’s graduation.
“Kassidy works well with our hitters and is a great setter as well as defender,” James said. “Emily’s impressive vertical and quick arm swing will be an asset to the Lady Bears as she takes over the role of middle hitter and blocker.”
James said offensive consistency will be crucial for the Bears, with Bailey no longer manning the middle. With players like Dudko, Perkins and Duddridge back, though, defense should be a strong point.
“The girls know that both Bailey and Crewse left huge shoes to fill,” said James, who added that the Willow Springs coaching staff emphasized offseason weightlifting for returning players. “However, we have underclassmen ready to step up and fill those positions. In the offseason, we focused on sharpening their fundamental skills and defense.”
Willow Springs travels to Cabool on Aug. 15 for its jamboree. The Bears’ season opener is Aug. 22 at home versus Hillcrest.
The Bears will also play in tournaments at Forsyth (Aug. 26), Cabool (Sept. 9) and Licking (Sept. 30).
