ONLY 1 SENIOR AMONG TOP 13 PLAYERS
By Staff
The McPherson High volleyball team will be looking to use the experience of 2022 to feed the hunger of a still very young team to propel them to success in 2023.
In 2022, the Lady Bullpups finished 21-16 overall and 5-5 in the AVCTL (Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League) Division III which was good for a second-place tie.
Christy Doile begins her season 24 with the Lady Bullpup volleyball program and year number 18 as the head coach where she has a career mark of 513-194.
While Kelcie Bergstrom will be the lone senior lost to graduation, the biggest loss on paper could be the departure of assistant coach Cheryl Malm who has worked with Doile for 23 seasons. Melissa Segovia will be the new assistant coach for the Lady Bullpup spikers.
“I just might have the most returnees I have ever had,” noted Doile. “This team will be a year older, yet still be pretty young though we anticipate major growth from August to October. We also have other kids in our gym that will push the competition to be on the varsity court. Competition resets for the 2023 season.”
Set to lead the team in 2023 is senior setter Alex Romero who recorded 704 assists, 77 kills, 15 blocks and 137 digs while being named first-team all-AVCTL. The coach comment, “Romero took nearly every varsity setting rep in running the team’s 5-1 offense. We will rely on her court experience and vocal leadership as she will be the key in locating and pushing the tempo for the team.”
Among the other top seven returnees is Junior Haley Hageman who is not only an outstanding softball player, but a worthy volleyball player as she earned first-team all-league honors as an outside hitter last season where she made 309 kills, had 41 service aces and scored 237 digs. The coach’s comment, “Haley looks to return for six rotations as our outside hitter-1 and one of our top receivers. We are hoping she will increase her kill efficiency and be a floor leader for us since she returns with the most varsity experience having been a starter since her freshman season.”
The coaches kid, sophomore Brooke Doile made 148 kills, 166 digs and served up 32 aces as a freshman hitter in 2022. According to the coach, “Brooke swung out of the middle for us and led our team in serve/receive rating and reps. She was second in hitting efficiency and blocks but her most effective hit is off a side, and she can score offensively from the back row.”
Junior Addison Chapman may only stand five-foot-five, but she led the team in blocks at 31 due to her incredible vertical ability. She also recorded 112 kills, 126 digs and 29 service aces. The coach commented, “Addison oozes athleticism and a relentless desire to compete. She is quick and get up on her attacks while putting balls down with authority.”
Josie Fitzmorris is a junior hitter/libero who played three rotations of defense as the team libero, making 140 digs. To the coach, “Josie will compete not only for defensive time, but also for front row time as well. She is one of our more vocal players and always brings good energy onto the court. She is a consistent server, and we can always count on her serves to be in the court.”
Outside hitter, junior Cora Pavlovich had 64 kills, 29 digs, 17 service aces and three blocks in 2022 while working her way into the starting line-up the final third of the season. Coach Doile says, “Cora had a strong junior varsity start while improving weekly from a previous knee injury. She is a great leaper, can mix in tips and also has a really fast arm swing that makes her more difficult to block. We want her to swing freely and continue to mix in the tips.
Another sophomore, Ava Romero was named honorable mention all-league as a hitter as she recorded 15t0 kills, 47 service aces, 231 digs and 18 blocks in her freshman season. Coach Doile noted, “Ava can play any hitting position and will give our offense some versatility. She is a natural blocker that can slow down opponent hitters while being one of our more vocal and animated players.”
Beyond those seven, one sophomore in Elley Paulsen along with five juniors, Reese Buchman, Mallorie Cooper, Kenzi Kaufman, Ciara Rawson and Chiara Lovadina were listed by the coaches as players to watch for in delivering solid varsity time on the court.
According to coach Doile, “The ladies will continue to use our shorter, athletic style of play as we want to pass and go fast, be feisty, scrappy and relentless. As we line-up our kids at the net, our offensive kids are evenly talented at each hitting position and defensively we have to pass to target so our offense can get going fast and not let the ball hit the floor.”
The Lady Bullpup volleyball team will open the 2023 season on Saturday, August 26 when they play host to the AVCTL Preseason tournament beginning at 9:00 a.m. before hitting the road for a pair of triangulars at Andale on Tuesday, August 29 and Circle on Tuesday, September 5.
Coach Doile concluded her preseason reflections by saying, “Serving tough, keeping other teams out of their system will b important keys to help us gain an edge during the upcoming season.”
2023 MCPHERSON LADY BULLPUP VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE:
Saturday, August 26 = Hosting AVCTL Preseason Tournament, 9:00 am
Tuesday, August 29 = at Andale Triangular (with Andale, Winfield), 5:00 pm
Tuesday, September 5 = at Circle Triangular (with Circle, Winfield), 5:00 pm
Tuesday, September 12 = Hosting Triangular (with Augusta, Rose Hill), 5:00 pm
Tuesday, September 19 = at Augusta Triangular (with Augusta, Mulvane), 5:00 pm
Saturday, September 23 = at Newton Tournament (with 7 other schools), 8:00 am
Tuesday, September 26 = at Circle Triangular (with Circle, Buhler), 5:00 pm
Tuesday, October 3 = at Clearwater Triangular (with Clearwater, Rose Hill), 5:00 pm
Saturday, October 7 = Hosting Invitational (with 7 other schools), 8:00 am
Tuesday, October 10 = Hosting Triangular (with Buhler, Mulvane), 5:00 pm
Saturday, October 14 = at Anderson County Invitational (with 7 other schools) in Garnett, 9:00 am
Tuesday, October 17 = Hosting Triangular (with El Dorado, Wellington), 5:00 pm
Saturday, October 21 = at Class 4A Sub-State, TBA
Friday/Saturday, October 27/28 = Class 4A State Tournament at Hutchinson Sports Arena
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)
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