Ash Grove volleyball won nine matches last year and finished below .500 for the first time since 2014. This year’s team is motivated to get back above .500.
“As any team coming off of an under .500 season, they are determined to improve and make this year better than the year before through team morale and hard work,” Ash Grove head coach Diana Eiberger said
Five players who saw consistent varsity action return this year.
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“We have five returning players this year that saw consistent varsity time last season,” Eiberger said. “We expect all of them to make an impact to our team work ethic this season. This summer we saw junior setter and outside hitter Ashlyn Gerla stepping into a leadership role on the floor and encouraging others to work hard and do their very best. We look forward to seeing this leadership grow with Ashlyn and the rest of the upperclassmen.”
Gerla had 134 kills, 231 assists, 244 digs and 175 serve receptions as a junior.
Fellow seniors Claudia Morrison (setter) and Jamalynn Atkinson (middle hitter) will look to have big varsity roles. Morrison was the captain of the junior varsity squad last year.
“We all agree that our focus needs to be on defense and being offensively aggressive and smart all at the same time,” Eiberger said.
Ash Grove will travel to Pierce City on Aug. 23 for a jamboree. The Lady Pirates open the regular season on Sept. 1 at Greenfield.
