Dexter, Missouri - The Lady Cats volleyball team has high expectations this year. They return several starters from the 2014 season. They had a tremendous year winning the SCAA Tournament, the 48-Dig for Life Classic for the first time in school history and won the Class 3, District 1 volleyball tournament for the first time in 14 years.
“We graduated two strong players for us who provided a lot of leadership,” stated head volleyball coach Carmen Morgan. "But I think our team this year is maybe a more well-rounded team as far as the whole makeup of the team. I think at anytime we could have four or five sophomores out on the floor. That's young and with that comes what I call 'emotional immaturity' more than playing immaturity for them.
"We also have three seniors - Brittany Brown, Kendall Adams and Julia Hahn. They have a role on this team and are filling it very well. They've stepped in and are doing what they need to do. I have a strong bench this year, which is something I have not had in years past at this school. I've got players who can come in off the bench, step right into the spot and do the job for us."
The 2015 Bearcat roster consists of Kendall Adams, Brittany Brown and Julia Hahn (seniors), Ashlynn Wyman, Janie Lindsey, Madison McConnell, and Emily Page (juniors), Bailee Williams Lexie Barnes, Krysten Garrison, Hannah Thurmon, Megan Trout and Addie Kruse (sophomores).
"We've got to have leadership, and it's nice to have senior leadership, and we will get some senior leadership, I'm sure," Morgan stated. "But other people can step up too. You either lead by example or you lead vocally or verbally. Some of our players are kind of quite and are going to lead more by example."
"I think the big thing for us this year is we have to be able to play without worrying about making mistakes," continued Morgan. "The thing I saw this summer with these kids is they want to do everything perfect. We wouldn't even have competitive sports if that's the way it was. You cannot play without making some mistakes. So basically my big goal is to get them playing at their optimal level when the going is tough. If we can do that by the end of the season that's going to make our emotional maturity just a little bit better."
Volleyball has become a game for tall girls and Dexter has five that Coach Morgan considers to be tall. She also explained that she has girls that can jump and don’t have to be tall. With that combination the Lady Cats may be unstoppable on the floor!
The Bearcats will play in their first tournament on September 4th and 5th at the Notre Dame Volleyball Fest. Dexter will also defend their championship and compete in the Dig for Life Classic held on September 11th and 12th. Dexter will also host the 2015 SCAA Tournament slated for the second week in October.
“The Notre Dame Tournament is packed,” Morgan said. “Helias and Lafayette are in it and it’s going to be a tough, tough tournament.”
Dexter is slated to compete in Class 3, District 1, with Doniphan, Fredericktown, Kennett, Notre Dame and Perryville at the end of the season at Notre Dame Regional High School.
"The district is always going to be brutal," Morgan said. "Not only the district, but the next round of state is brutal. Perryville is like us. I think they lost five starters, but they've got some young kids coming up and Dave will always have them playing strong by the end of the season. Notre Dame only lost one player last year so they are loaded. Those are always the strongest contenders that we see."
Starla Pulley will be the Lady Cats’ new assistant coach this year. She served as the head volleyball coach at Bloomfield before taking the head coaching position for the Dexter Softball Team.
"She brings in 11 years of experience and is doing a great job," Morgan said of Pulley. "I'm excited to get to work with her and that our team is going to get to work with her as an assistant coach."
