By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Camdenton volleyball enjoyed a successful run in 2024.
The Lakers compiled a 21-9-1 record, falling to Union in the Class 4 District 5 semifinal.
“In 2024 we had to learn to navigate a new conference as we joined the CMAC (Central Missouri Activities Conference),” head coach Austin Walker said. “We weren’t unaware of all opponents as we played a few on our regular season schedule, but those games were no longer ‘non-conference’ for us, so we had to be dialed in.
“We finished 21-9-1 on the season so, for us, we feel like we were right where we expected ourselves to be. We could walk away feeling like we competed in all of our matches and left with something that left this year’s squad hungry.”
Heading into the 14th season at the helm, Walker will look to a talented quartet of returning upperclassmen to provide leadership for the Lakers in senior setter Bella Asante, senior middle Madison Sykora, senior pin hitter Jayla Thibodeau and senior defensive specialist Dot Krulatz.
Walker on Asante – “Bella is a great leader who we have seen mature and grow over the last three years. She finished 7th in assists for Class 4 last season. She is poised to have a great senior season (2,315 career assists and three-year starter). She leads by example and is poised to have a great senior season. Last season she was 1st team all-district and 2nd team all-conference. She has verbally committed to play at Drury University in 2026.”
Walker on Sykora – “Madison is a great athlete that has really pushed herself to be more versatile over the last year. She has stepped up and known she needs to find ways to score us points. We have used her in the back row this summer where she can serve-receive well and also give us another attack option. Last season Madison was honorable mention all-conference and honorable mention all-district.”
Walker on Thibodeau – “Jayla is a returning starter for us this season as a pin hitter. She can attack from both the outside and the right side and has done a great job in her role. She is a great leader who encourages others well and will be a great leader for our younger players.”
Walker on Krulatz – “Dot has played varsity for going on two seasons. She has played outside and defense for us. She is always willing to do what is needed of her for the team. She will primarily shift to a backrow position to start this season as she has been very strong in serve receive and played left back defense. Wherever she plays, she will be an asset for us.“
Walker also expects a trio of varsity newcomers to have an immediate impact on Camdenton’s rotation in junior outside hitter Macy Mellencamp, junior middle Krysta Bond and sophomore outside hitter Ella Hulett.
Walker on Mellencamp – “We have seen a lot of growth from Macy this summer as she has stepped into a varsity position on the outside. She is a great athlete that has really worked at finding ways to score points for us. Most importantly, she has emerged as a six-rotation player for us playing middle back as we have progressed over the summer.”
Walker on Bond – “Krysta is a great athlete that has found ways to get the job done this summer. She has shown up and done the little things correctly, putting herself in a position to see lots of time this fall. She is a dynamic blocker that has a sense for reading a setter well. She will be someone to keep an eye on as the season progresses as she will continue to grow.”
Walker on Hulett – “We are asking a lot of Ella to go from freshman volleyball, limited JV time, to full time starting varsity. She is probably our best passer in the gym right now and has continued to work on her game on the outside. She is working on mixing up her shots, and hitting consistently at a high percentage. She will play six rotations for us and will give our defense a boost when needed. “
Camdenton’s 5-1 rotation will feature plenty of versatility this season.
“We have spent a lot of time working on out of system volleyball as we have some youth on our team,” Walker said. “In game-like situations, we want to be able to score points through our out of system game. And the idea that we have to get better each time we are in the gym and on the court. Find something you did great, and find something we have to keep working on to push us.”
Walker also expects Asante to be the focal point of the Laker attack.
“Bella Asante running the offense is going to be big for us this season,” Walker said. “She is so steady and the ball being in her hands each time it’s on our side of the court is going to be big for us. She is smart and puts us in good offensive situations. She knows when to change directions on the ball, but also when she should score points herself.”
“We have some new, young bodies,” Walker said. “Getting them used to varsity pace volleyball, raising their IQ and keeping them confident is something we will have to work on all year. We encourage kids to be aggressive and with that can come more mistakes so finding ways to make changes while staying confident for a younger athlete can be hard.
“My expectation is for our newcomers and returners to step up and continue to build on what our foundation has been. I like to say we are gritty and find ways to get things done. It is not always going to be easy or pretty, but sticking to controlling our side of the court will be key.”
Following an Aug. 26 jamboree at home, Camdenton opens its regular season Sep. 2 at Lebanon.
