By Josh Hall (Josh.hall@ky3.com)
In her first year as the West Plains High School volleyball coach, Kaley Lyons felt like the Lady Zizzers were satisfied if they played a close game.
Lyons expects that mentality to change this season after West Plains compiled a 14-16-2 record in 2016 after falling to Nixa in the first round of the Class 4, District 11 tournament.
“Competing is just not enough anymore,” Lyons said. “They were so used to having the expectation to just compete; not having to win or feel like they were able to win. We played so many tight games last year, so it was so hard to get them over the hump of just competing and not getting killed.”
Lyons reinforced that to her team over the summer.
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“You have seen that you can compete now,” she told the Lady Zizzers. “Now the next step is to win games, not just having the score be close.”
West Plains went 2-7 in the Ozark Conference last year. Lyons hopes to see the Lady Zizzers in the middle of the pack, or better, this season.
“My goal is to have a winning record,” Lyons said.
West Plains graduated one senior from last year in First-Team All-Conference selection Elle Williams. But the Lady Zizzers have a lot coming back in 2017.
Seniors Kelly Wiedemann and Kendra Davidson are the top returners from last season.
Wiedemann earned second-team all-conference honors as an outside hitter after leading the team in kills. Davidson was an honorable mention at setter last season.
“Kelly is a great all-around player and I am looking forward to seeing what she brings this year,” Lyons said. “Kendra is a smart player and understands the game. I’m looking for her to be more vocal and step out of her comfort zone to lead this team as a 5-1 setter again.”
West Plains has seven total seniors this year, but the Lady Zizzers will be without Lily Harris, who will miss the entire season after suffering a torn ACL.
“We will truly miss her,” Lyons said. “I am looking for someone else to step into her spot as a middle.”
West Plains has a few other positions that are up for the taking.
“We have options this year for spots and I’m looking forward to the competition within the team, because healthy competition within is what will enable us to reach our full potential,” Lyons said.
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