SHS volleyball team to depend on youngsters

SIKESTON - Youth is served for this year's Sikeston Lady Bulldogs volleyball team. With only one senior and three returning juniors on this year's squad, coach Steve Beydler will depend on a host of sophomores and freshmen to solidify his team.

The ladies may be young but they have been working to get prepared for the upcoming season. A number of the players have been working out with individual trainers or have participated in training programs to achieve greater core strength, improve vertical jump and increase speed and endurance.

In addition, many of the players have been playing in summer leagues this year and have arrived to practice stronger and more prepared to contribute to the team.

Lone senior, Khassie Patterson, will play a vital role in the team's overall defensive strategy and will be called upon at times to fill in on the offensive side.

"Khassie has impressed me thus far with her determination. She had some knee problems the previous two seasons and has shown up ready to play her senior year at a high level," said Beydler.

Juniors are Kiarra Morris, Quinn Kaiser and Emily Taylor. Morris is a good back court player and has been working hard on improving her frontcourt game. She will be a starter in a primarily defensive role. Morris has been serving amazing in practices and look for her to make things happen when she serves.

Kaiser was a first team all-conference player last year. She will be in a hitting position and can fill in at setter if needed. Kaiser is coming off a broken finger last year and is showing improvements at each practice.

Taylor is Sikeston's spark-plug and is a great team motivator.

She has put in a lot of time at summer camps and leagues working on her armswing and her jumping.

Four sophomores will start the season on the varsity squad: middle blocker Martika Davis, setter Rachel Beydler, setter Kelsey Lawerence and middle blocker Caitlin Underwood.

"Martika is an outstanding athlete and has the potential to be an outstanding middle blocker," said coach Beydler.

Rachel Beydler brings back some varsity experience as she filled in at setter at the end of last year including the district playoffs.

Sikeston runs a 6-2 offense so Beydler will see some time hitting.

Lawerence is a good passer and will start as one of the setters in the rotation. Lawerence will hit some in Sikeston's search for the right blend of players to complete the offensive attack.

Underwood has been working extremely hard in the offseason and her blocking timing has earned her a spot on the varsity roster.

She is becoming more aggressive on attack and with experience will get more consistent and gain more confidence.

Coach Beydler and assistant coach Kim Pinkard expects key contributions from junior varsity players Destiny Walker and Alli Harper.

"We are very young and getting better each day," said Coach Beydler, "As we become more consistent, play tough defense and continue to gel as a team, there is no end to what this group of young ladies will accomplish in the future."

Sikeston will host the Bernie Mules on Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Field House.