By Chris Parker
Bradleyville is looking for a bounce-back season with several key players returning this year.
Senior outside hitter Jacquelyn Clemans will be the team’s leader. She earned second-team all-conference honors last season after she had a team-high 35 aces to go with 33 kills and 55 assists.
“Jacquelyn shared the setting duties last season. This year she will likely play on the outside more often and look to contribute more with her hitting,” Bradleyville head coach Reggie Roepke said. “We will look to her to be our leader on the court with her play and her attitude.”
Junior setter Makinna Humbyrd led Bradleyville in assists last year with 72. She returns at setter.
“Makinna led our team in assists last year and will look to do so again,” Roepke said. “When she is on her game, our team is playing its best. We will look to have a big year from her this season.”
Sophomore outside hitter Harley Guerin led Bradleyville in digs last year with 68.
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“Harley is a hustle player with great skill as well,” Roepke said. “The sky is the limit for Harley, we will look for her to carry a lot of our load both protecting the court on defense as well as attacking on offense. She looks to have an explosive season.”
Junior blocker Amely Meltke led the team with 27 blocks last season.
“Amely has great athletic ability and has improved each season she has played,” Roepke said.
Hannah Sanders (senior outside hitter) and Arica Todd (sophomore outside hitter) each saw varsity action last year and will look to expand their roles this year.
Rilee Swearingen (junior defensive specialist), Abbi VanWinsen (freshman outside hitter) and Emma Smith (sophomore defensive specialist/setter) are newcomers to watch on the varsity level.
“Our biggest strength will be our teamwork and our hustle. We have a group of girls that want to win very badly. We will look to our seniors to lead everything by example and produce on the court. If we play six players as one unit we can be a tough squad,” Roepke said. “We need to improve in all aspects of the game. We learned how to compete with teams last season, now we will look to take that next step in our program and the only way we will do that is with hard work day in and day out.”
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Bradleyville will open the season on Sept. 1 at home against School of the Ozarks.
“Our expectations will be to work hard each practice, compete for every point, give maximum effort for each ball and not stop until the whistle is blown,” Roepke said. “Our belief is that if we do those things we will begin winning more consistently.”
