Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
The Lady Longhorns volleyball team are pictured, front left to right, Kiersten Anderson, Maddie Wynne and Desyree Nelson. Second row, Jenna Greenwood, Bailee Brower and Sierra Rutledge. Third row is Kaitlin Heeg, Emma Martin, Megan Spicer, Ashlynn Guzman, Sydney Biesecker and Riley Hinton. Fourth row is Sarinda Bateman, Amy Birkhoffer and Tianna Stierwalt.
Jenna Greenwood tips one over the net last year in a game against Bridgeport. Greenwood is one of five returning starters expected to lead the way this year.
Kimball volleyball is back in action this season with four returning starters, Madison Wynne setter, Kate Reader middle hitter, Jenna Greenwood outside hitter, Sydney Biesecker outside hitter, also with these four, is returning lettermen Sierra Rutledge. Once again on the sidelines is four year head coach Jeri Ferguson, assisted by Tiffany LaBeau.
With the absence of last years seniors, Hannah Biesecker and Justine Heeg, the returning starters will be expected to step up their team leadership skills. Her five returning leaders give her a wealth of talent to draw on and she expects their leadership levels to be at the highest.
The Lady Longhorns finished third in the WTC last season and are in hopes of another season in the top.
Ferguson's "scrappy" team, as she puts it, lacks height but Ferguson said she looks for her team to play superior defense, helping with this team's shortage.
Improvements are always needed no matter what level of play and this season coach Ferguson wants to focus on talking, court transitions, and becoming more consistent offensively and defensively.
"We have the potential to be very consistent offensively with several players who can hit with some power," Ferguson said. "We just have to be more consistent. For the most part we will be a shorter team so we need to be a good defensive team."
With a little less height and a little more focus on defense the team has the mindset that the ball will not touch the floor without being touched.
