By Chris Parker
Willard volleyball is aiming for a bounce-back season after winning five matches in 2022. The team brings more experience back in the second season under head coach Kailey Bridges.
“One of the biggest differences (entering this season) is just the experience of the girls,” Bridges said. “Last year, we only had one player with significant varsity playing experience, so it was a constant battle to gain confidence on the court. This season we will still be young, but we return four varsity letter (winners) and their experience, leadership, and confidence will be crucial to our success.”
The four returning players are seniors Madison Magee (middle blocker) and Karli Wheeler (outside/right side attacker) and sophomores Abby Morris (setter) and Taylor Roweton (outside attacker).
Brides on Magee: “Madison Magee is our only returning varsity player that received post season honors last year. She has been working hard this summer to improve her floor defense and receive game and those skills will strongly complement the offense she will provide us. We look to transition her to a 6-rotation player this season.”
Bridges on Wheeler: “Karli Wheeler will look to provide us with more offense this season to complement her blocking game. She has been working in the off-season to become a more versatile attacker, and we will look to her to be a force at the net for us this fall.”
Bridges on Morris: “Abby Morris returns with experience, confidence, and leadership qualities. She will need to lead our offense this season. She is almost always the first one to the court and the last one to leave and is fully committed to leaving the gym stronger than she entered it each day.”
Bridges on Roweton: “Taylor Roweton returns this season more experienced, confident, and hungry. She is coming off of a great season of USAV club volleyball, where her 15s team qualified for the American Division of USAV Girls Junior National Championships. Her experience competing at that level will be a huge difference maker for our program.”
Senior middle blocker Evangelia Woods and junior right side Violet Kirkpatrick are newcomers who could provide offense this season.
Kylin Vandever (sophomore), Sam Long (senior), Ava Morrison (senior) and Ava Simpson (freshman) are all in the mix for defensive roles at libero and defensive specialist.
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This group has come together well throughout the offseason to develop good chemistry on the court.
“One of this team’s biggest assets is that every player, from freshmen to senior, has a great attitude and wants to be a good player and an even better teammate,” Bridges said. “They have been very coachable this summer and they seem to be developing great chemistry.”
Bridges will look for her still young roster to continue growing in their confidence.
“Our team needs to continue to build confidence in their abilities so they can keep improving on the court,” Bridges said. “Finding the confidence to fight for wins and not settle for just simply improvement each match will be the key to us having success. We are young so there is a lot of room for growth this season.”
Willard will travel to Springfield Catholic for a jamboree on Aug. 22 before opening the regular season on Aug. 28 at Fair Grove.
“The expectations for this season are to develop and rebuild a culture of intense work ethic and competitiveness in the gym,” Bridges said. “We want to be able to “get gritty” and be determined to compete each day at practice so that carries over into matches.”
