By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2024 proved to be another banner year for El Dorado Springs volleyball.
The Bulldogs posted an impressive 31-5 record, falling to eventual Class 2 state champion Fair Grove in the district final.
Entering her 12th season at the helm, head coach Ashley Rogers will look to replace a talented class of graduates including all-state setters Alexis Collins and Neely Schaaf.
“Alexis did a great job of leading our team,” Rogers said. “Neely helped lead the way with Alexis, as they were my setters for the past three years.”
Collins will play volleyball at Fort Scott Community College this season, while Schaaf will play basketball at the University of Central Missouri.
While replacing a pair of all-state performers is never easy, it helps when you have yet another all-state athlete still on the roster.
Senior libero McKinli Mays, an all-state, all-conference and all-district selection, returns to lead the Bulldog defense this season.
“McKinli leads our team defensively,” Rogers said. “She does a great job reading hitters and helping us be successful on the offensive side as well.”
Mays will be joined by classmates Tatum Quinlan and Kalen Post.
Quinlan, a setter and middle hitter, received all-conference and all-district honors last season.
“Tatum is a one-year starter but brings a lot of experience,” Rogers said. “She’s stepping into a new role this year as one of our setters. She does a great job of leading her teammates.”
Post, an outside hitter, was an all-conference and all-district selection as a junior.
“Kalen has a strong arm and huge vertical that she uses to her advantage to work over blockers,” Rogers said. “She also brings a ton of experience as a two-year varsity starter.”
Junior outside hitter Allie Thompson rounds out Eldo’s key returnees.
“Allie is gaining a larger role this year,” Rogers said. “She continues to work hard and gain valuable experience every time she’s on the court.”
Rogers also expects a host of varsity newcomers to compete for playing time this season, including Lainey Dody (SR-OH), Shay Linsenmayer (SO-MH), April Reissen (FR-OH), MaKena Robison (JR-S/DS), Maddix Robison (SO-S), Macie Walter (FR-MH), Kaysen Strauch (FR-S/OH), Darlinda Davis (JR-DS), Jovi Payne (FR-S) and Khloe Daniels (JR-DS).
“I have high expectations for my team this year,” Rogers said. “We worked hard this summer to build our team chemistry. I have a lot of players competing for multiple spots.
“The players I currently have are very competitive and competition breeds success. They will push each other to be the best that they can be which will only make us better as a whole.”
“I have a lot of girls competing for multiple spots,” Rogers said. “(Our rotation) is kind of up in the air right now. We have multiple offensive weapons, and being able to use them all should be a huge strength for us.”
While the team’s rotation and chemistry develop, Rogers will look to Quinlan to anchor Eldo’s attack and set the tone, offensively.
“Tatum will be one of our two setters this year,” Rogers said. “She brings a lot of enthusiasm and experience. The younger girls look up to her and she does a good job leading.”
The Bulldogs will, once again, feature a solid defense on the court with Mays controlling the tempo.
“We work on defense more than anything else,” Rogers said. “In my opinion it’s the most important aspect of the game. I return an all-state libero, McKinli, which will be a huge key to our success defensively and three strong hitters/blockers from last year.”
Following an Aug. 26 jamboree at Camdenton, Eldo opens its regular season Aug. 30 with the Stockton Tournament.
