Fall 2017 Preview: Ash Grove Volleyball

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By Josh Hall

The Ash Grove High School volleyball team has made it a goal to surpass 20 wins this season.

Lady Pirates coach Diana Dreier believes her team has the talent, drive and potential to accomplish that fete.

Ash Grove went 20-12-3 last season after falling to Strafford in the Class 2, District 12 tournament. The Lady Pirates lose six seniors from that team, but that doesn’t mean they are setting the bar short this season.

“They want to go out and improve our record from last year and try to get above that 20-win mark,” Dreier said. “They know to do that, they have to come together as a unit.”

It won’t be an easy accomplishes that goal, and the Lady Pirates know it.

But that isn’t stopping them from trying.

Among the six seniors lost to graduation in 2016 is first-team all-Mid-Lakes Conference selection Dani McThompson. Also gone is second-team selection Stefani Duncan.

But the Lady Pirates still have a core back that made a significant impact last season.

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All-conference honorable mention selection Catie Martin returns for her senior year as a middle hitter. Last season, the first-team all-district selection led Ash Grove with 200 kills and 52 kill blocks.

Martin is joined by second-team all-district pick Tori Tummons. The senior setter is back after leading the Lady Pirates with 485 assists, to go along with 163 digs.

After leading Ash Grove with 33 aces as a junior defensive specialist last year, Chloe Hardy is switching to an outside hitter for her senior year.

“They are really stepping into the shoes that we lost last year,” Dreier said. “Our three seniors that are returning are really stepping in.”

New to the Lady Pirates’ lineup this season will be juniors Kindell Coambes (outside hitter), Mackenzie Connell (middle hitter), Allison Duncan (setter), Kylynn Thompson (defensive specialist), along with sophomore defensive specialist Date Hodges.

“My expectations are that we’re going to grow and continue to learn and come out and do our best and see what happens,” Dreier said. “They’re really coming together to make the team bond.”

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