By Chris Parker
Bolivar volleyball is prepared to make a jump in coach Kyle Smith’s second season leading the program after finishing 14-14-4 last year, which was the team’s first as a member of the Ozark Conference.
“The biggest change for all of us (last year) was entering the Ozark Conference. The girls in the program were new to this sense of pride and some new rivalries began to form. Some of the teams had been on our independent schedule in the past, but many of them had not and it created a much tougher schedule than they had played in many years. Despite the tougher schedule they came out .500 on the season and took two of the top three teams in conference to a fifth set only losing by two,” Smith said. “At this point last year I think we were confidently going into the unknown with some reasonable doubts and fears, two new setters, and now we have confidence based on experience and know more what to expect. Our summer schedule was tougher and the girls and I are excited for the challenge ahead of us.”
The offense will be potent for Bolivar with a pair of seniors entering their fourth season as starters returning. Cora Roweton earned second-team all-conference honors last year after she put down 265 kills. She also led the team with 98 solo blocks at the net while finishing second in both digs (259) and serve receptions (371). Dailynn VanDeren, an honorable mention all-conference selection as a junior, was just behind her with 248 kills.
“Cora and Dailynn are beginning their fourth year starting on varsity and have had high expectations placed on them since Day 1,” Smith said. “Now, the pressure is what legacy they want to leave before they are done. We are moving them around a bit and hoping to keep defenses on their toes. Last season they both developed their jump serves and as they have gained confidence and consistency over the summer they offer a different look from many of our servers and many that we face. They also will see more time in serve receive this year and their leadership on the court is vital to our success.”
Sophomore Megan Howard returns after earning honorable mention all-conference honors as a freshman. She is a versatile player who was second on the team in assists (347), second in aces (58), third in digs (247) and fourth in kills (108).
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“No one is harder or places higher expectations on Megan than she does,” Smith said. “She pushes herself on and off the court. Last year was still a surprise though as we asked her to be a setter beyond hitting, passing, and serving. This was a position she was unfamiliar with, but with the help of some lessons from Loran Pritchett (Southwest Baptist University standout) and excellent continued training from her club coaches she brought a great effort to the position.”
Seniors Bella Kindrick and Elliana Partin also return for Bolivar.
Kindrick, right side, has worked back from an injury that ended her season early on last year.
“Bella Kindrick had an injury end her season extremely early last fall and she has been so hungry to get back,” Smith said. “She has worked extremely hard this spring and summer to get into form and has had some great moments this summer.”
Partin led the team in assists with 415 as a junior.
“She (Partin) brings a great sense of caring and dedication to the team and especially her teammates,” Smith said. “Elliana led in assists last season and has improved defensively and in her serve over the spring and summer.”
This experienced returning group will be the core strength of Bolivar’s team this year.
“Senior experience and returning so much of our varsity team will lead to better chemistry and an understanding of what it takes to find success in conference as well as postseason,” Smith said. “While the focus of every team I coach is to be aggressive servers and play tough defense, this team will add some explosive offense as well.”
Freshman Heidi Roweton, younger sister of Cora, has impressed the coaching staff this summer and looks to be an immediate varsity contributor.
“Heidi Roweton is a freshman who came to our gym the first practice of June and shocked our coaching staff. She has steadily led all passers in drills and scrimmages this summer and for someone who has primarily played front row in club and school ball she has an excellent serve and defensive skills. She has shown great promise this summer and is the third sister to come through the program,” Smith said. “I think our coaching staff had an idea she might have some talent and work ethic that could help out JV or possibly varsity, but over the course of the summer has earned the respect of her teammates and decidedly won the libero position. It’s always a competition and she has set the standard this year.”
Smith is looking for his team to be better in the serve receive game.
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“I think every coach could say this at this point or at any point, but most games are won in serve and receive,” Smith said. “While we serve aggressively, the location and accuracy is a focus this year, along with always working to improve our receive game. We are really working on implementing a ‘team pass’ mentality instead of just one person sold out on their own responsibility to pass the first contact.”
Bolivar will travel to Hillcrest for a jamboree on Aug. 23 with the host Hornets, Osage and Buffalo. The Liberators open the regular season on Aug. 27 at the Branson Tournament.
“I think an improved finish in conference and in the postseason are great results-driven expectations, but I think a bigger goal for this team is to set and leave a legacy of Bolivar Volleyball that future teams and generations can look to as a standard of what we expect,” Smith said. “This could be bigger than just one season.”
