By Keeghan Gittins
For The New Era
After ending the season 4-15 and ranked 24th in the 4A Division last year, Sweet Home’s volleyball team is aiming for a bounceback year.
Head Coach Katie Dargis, starting her second year with the Huskies, believes the team will be much stronger than its predecessor.
“We have some strong back row players and precise front row hitters who will be holding themselves more accountable this season,” she said. “I expect us to come out and win more games this season.”
Sweet Home has an upperclassman-exclusive roster with five returning seniors: Keira Johnson, Aubrey Newberry, Miley Smith, Natalie Smith and Trinity Victor.
Rounding out the rest of the roster are seven juniors, Aaliyah Brown, Kalissa Ellis, Amara Gonzales, Hannah Nicholson Karissa Jewell, Kaitlyn Kennedy and Lexi Rundell.
The seniors have really taken a leadership role in this year’s team, Dargis said.
“They all help to keep the enthusiasm on the court positive as well as on the bench. We are working as a team to make sure we are helping to reset each other after mistakes on the court, and I am counting on all of them to be a positive contributor to that process.
“They are helpful in the whole program as well – guiding the younger teams through their actions such as preparing the gym for practice, taking care of the locker room, being responsible on the bus rides, etc.”
She said one big focus this year is respecting each other on the court: “Helping to reset each other after mistakes, being willing to face adversity and push yourself to do better, to hold ourselves accountable for our performance.”
She said the team started the season with bonding activities and she hopes to continue that through the season.
In practice, they are emphasizing fundamentals: “spending some time on passing, hitting, blocking, and a lot of time knowing our rotation.
On the junior varsity roster going into this season are: juniors Kalissa Ellis, who will swing, Tori Victor and Hannah Nicholson, who will swing; sophomores Raelyn Andrews and Taelyn Coleman; and freshmen Aubree Bartlett, Miranda Chelstad, Tessa Cooley, Eveline Harris, Madison Jeppsen, Bristol Paul, Amaya Smith and Braelyn Walker.
Junior varsity II players are sophomores Sydney Dominy, Bailey Newens and Lyla Ventura; and freshmen Abigail Blank, Lily Hurst, Sydney Lamb, Addison Landtroop, Kayla Matthews, Leah Nicholson, Brookelyn Visser, Ellie Wagoner and Kassidy Zajic.
At the varsity level, the Huskies face one of the toughest schedules in the 4A Division this season with three opponents ranked in the coaches’ Top 10 poll from two weeks before the season. They face Cottage Grove in non-league action and then Cascade and Stayton twice in league play. Plus, Philomath can never be counted out in the Oregon West Conference.
“I am looking forward to many league games – these girls do best when they are challenged in games and we have a challenging league. Two teams from our league finished in the top 10 last year, so l’m excited to get to play them again. Games against Cascade, Stayton, Newport, and Philomath will all be a great test and challenge for us.”