Dexter, Missouri - The defending 2014 District Champions took to the court at the home opener against Kennett and proved their competitiveness as one of the leading volleyball teams in southeast Missouri. 

The Lady Varsity Cats hammered out 21 kills in their two sets against the Lady Indians defeating them 25-11, 25-12.

“We did pretty well once we settled down,” commented Dexter’s head volleyball coach Carmen Morgan.  “At the very beginning we looked nervous and I knew they were going to be that way even though they said they weren’t.”

“When you tense up your muscles that doesn’t work well so our passes killed us at the very start of the game.  We weren’t passing and we are a pretty good passing team for the most part.  After they relaxed their shoulders and muscles a little bit and started calling the ball they started doing what they could do,” continued Morgan.  "We missed five serves and that’s not something we like to do.  We want to get that cleaned up, but all-around they did well for their first game and I was not unhappy at all.” 

Krysten Garrison tallied a team-high seven kills for Dexter.  Lexie Barnes recorded five kills and Addie Kruse added four kills.  Kendall Adams scored three kills and Julia Hahn recorded two kills.

Hannah Thurmon earned herself three blocks.

Garrison and Bailey Williams each had 11 assists.

“Everybody can hit on this team,” Morgan said.  “That’s the nice thing.  You can tell we have some height.  Hannah Thurmon is tall and puts up a formidable block.  Krysten Garrison and Addie Kruse both have height and then you’ve got some smaller girls like Lexi Barnes and Julia Hahn that jump high.  Kendall Adams and Janie Lindsey also have good height.  I said at the beginning this team is well-rounded and that’s what it takes.  Everybody has learned to rely on each other and that’s important.  I also have a couple of sophomore setters doing a good job.”

The Lady Cats (1-0) will return on Thursday night at the Bearcat Event Center when they host the Jackson Lady Indians.  Game time is 6:00 p.m.

“Jackson is always a tough opponent,” Morgan stated.  “I really haven’t taken the time to look to see how many they graduated.  I do know they graduated some good girls, but it seems to me like they had a pretty good JV last year, so we will have a tough go of it, but that’s what we want.”

Shown in the photo is senior Brittany Brown.