By Chris Parker
Mt. Vernon volleyball broke through last season by winning a third straight district title and earning the program’s first trip to a final four in the process.
“Every season we’ve been pushing a little further, first a district championship, then a sectional win, and finally a quarterfinal win and a final four berth,” Mt. Vernon head coach Bridgett Schmutz said. “We talk a lot about how we learn more through failure than we do through our successes. At the end of each of those seasons, those losses, while they stung, were used as a catalyst to build upon. If you never put yourself in a position to fail, you’ll never succeed; our program takes that to heart, and it’s been incredible to see these players and those on the other title team rally together for each other and find little ways to improve each year.”
Mt. Vernon finished the season with a 26-8-2 record concluding with a 3-0 loss to Helias Catholic (36-1-1) in the state title game.
The Mountaineers will try to make it back to the final four with some firepower returning led by senior all-state selection Ziah Schmutz. Ziah Schmutz, who was also named Big 8 Player of the Year, put down a team-high 423 kills. She was second on the team in assists with 434.
“Ziah has a high volleyball IQ so running a good, balanced offense is something that she can do really well,” Coach Schmutz said. “She also knows her teammates strengths and uses her skill set to put them in positions to be successful, which is what you want with your setters.”
Her serving is also a big weapon after she led the team with 66 aces.
“She is effective behind the service line because she can put the ball in specific locations and she’s fearless,” Coach Schmutz said. “Serving is the only part of the game that you’re 100% in control of, and Ziah thrives in that type of environment.”
Ziah Schmutz along with fellow seniors Savannah Dampf and Claire Hale will be key leaders.
“Ziah is intense and extremely competitive, but she is also a great communicator. I think the mark of a great player is getting those around you to raise their level, some do that through motivation and energy, others through their work ethic and individual standards,” Coach Schmutz said. “I think the three seniors, Savannah, Claire and Ziah will do a great job of combining all of those qualities and have a positive impact on every player in our program.”
The senior trio will be the team’s strength.
“In our three seniors, we bring in nine years of varsity experience; they all three are some of the best in their positions in our class and balance each other very well,” Coach Schmutz said. “They are driven, motivated and are battle-tested.”
Dampf earned second-team all-conference honors after she led the team with 56 total blocks last season.
“Sav is such an athlete,” Coach Schmutz said. “She is strong, agile, and intelligent. As a four-year starter, she has continued to improve every season. Something that sets Sav apart is the variety of tools she has in her arsenal to score. She’s worked really hard to expand her game in that regard.”
She will return to the middle this season.
“We’ve toyed with moving Sav out of the middle but her blocking and speed off the ground make her a true middle,” Coach Schmutz said. “She and Ziah have started to find a great connection this summer. She’s always available, and Z is good enough to find her. The middle, in my opinion, is one of the toughest positions to defend, so seeing the pair of them click is something that will add a new wrinkle to our offense.”
Hale will help anchor the defense as a libero.
“Claire has played varsity since her freshman year and is a phenomenal defender,” Coach Schmutz said. “She is one of the best communicators we’ve ever had in our program, and has an extremely effective serve and brings so much energy to the court. Claire has moved seamlessly into the libero role and is so versatile, playing both left back and middle back. Claire is one of the best defenders in our area, if not the state and we will need her to be the backbone of our defense.”
Junior Ruth Fish led the team in assists with 502 as a sophomore.
“Ruth is so quick, a great defender and as the season progressed, she really started to shine in the setting role,” Coach Schmutz said. “Her connection with the hitters is largely impart to her willingness to take feedback and apply it. She is hungry to deliver the best ball to her attackers.”
Kenley Eidemiller also returns as a junior opposite.
“Kenley is a great teammate and last season she exemplified what a role player does,” Coach Schmutz said. “She did her job, did it well and got better and better as the season progressed. She sets a great block, plays good defense and is smart with her shot selection. We look for Kenny to step up and play an even bigger role in our offense this season.”
Elli Eddington (sophomore OH), Avery Zacha (junior middle), Lilli Irwin (junior DS) and Hope Hill (sophomore middle/opposite) will be newcomers to watch according to Coach Schmutz.
Coach Schmutz on Eddington: “Elli was slated to be in our starting lineup last season but was sidelined due to a broken foot that plagued her all season. The only game she played in was the state championship. This season we look for Elli to move from the middle to a pin, and this summer she has really grown in that position. Elli is strong, she hits the heaviest ball on our team, she has great reaction time, deceptively quick and is extremely competitive. She went on to be an all-conference and all-district player in basketball and softball and she has the skillset to do that on the volleyball court.”
Coach Schmutz on Zacha: “Avery played in several games last season as we worked out a line up and she has made big strides throughout the off season and has looked strong in the middle. We look for her to bring a big block, a lot of energy and work to be an option as the season goes on.”
Coach Schmutz on Irwin: “Lilli has played a lot of volleyball and is a great athlete. She works hard at everything she does; the weight room, the track, the classroom. Lilli will push for time in the back row and help keep our defense strong.”
Coach Schmutz on Hill: “Hope also saw some playing time last season as she and Avery battled in the middle. Hope really loves the game, will do whatever it takes to be successful and has been working to build up to the speed of the game. She could be a contender in the front row.”
Mt. Vernon hosts a jamboree with Clever, Carl Junction and Webb City on Aug. 25 before opening the regular season on Aug. 29 at the Branson Tournament.
“We just have to do simple things really well, not over complicate the game and have fun,” Coach Schmutz said. “If we can keep things in perspective, not let any moment get too big and not take a single rep for granted then everything will fall into place.”
