The high school volleyball team is gearing up for the upcoming season with a mix of returning players and new talent.
After holding tryouts for nearly 50 athletes, the coaching staff selected 11 players for the varsity team. Coach Katie Dargis described the tryouts as a valuable learning experience, with players adjusting to the challenge of competing in a crowded gym.
“The girls did a good job of working through having so many athletes in the gym and asking a variety of things, from basic skills to more challenging skills,” Dargis said. “It went well.”
Players were regularly shuffled between drills and courts, helping them build mental toughness and improve adaptability. The focus during tryouts was on skill development and responding quickly to new challenges.
The varsity squad will feature four returning players: senior Tiara Reynolds, juniors Trinity Victor and Miley Smith, and sophomore Karissa Jewel. With a combination of experienced leaders and fresh talent, the team aims to improve this season. The 24’-25’ varsity team also includes: juniors Aubrey Newberry, Keira Johnson and Natalie Smith, seniors Jocelyn Fairchild and Sophia Stock as well as sophomores Aaliyah Brown and Kaitlyn Kennedy.
The volleyball team played its first home game against Junction City (2-2) on Sept. 3, a hard-fought match that ended in a 3-2 loss.
“I was very proud of the girls for how hard they fought all five sets,” Dargis said. “They didn’t back down.”
Though the game started late, Dargis was pleased with how the team performed, despite some early nerves and several players making their varsity debut. The game also saw an injury to a middle hitter, who hurt her ankle. Aubrey Newberry stepped up to fill in, even though she hadn’t practiced in the position.
“I’m very happy with how aggressive they were,” Dargis said. “They didn’t back down from swinging and tried to keep it tough on their [Junctions’] defense.”
The team also excelled at the serving line. Sophomore Karissa Jewell stood out on serve receive, completing 33 out of 38 attempts. Junior Keira Johnson also impressed the coach with 11 kills during the match.
“She was a beast back there on serve receive and kept us going,” Dargis said.
The team’s next game is away against Molalla (0-1) at 6 p.m. on Sept. 10.
