Friday, Aug. 22, 2008

South volleyball rates among elite squads again

A perennial Class 6A power, Olathe South looks poised for another strong campaign in 2008.

The Falcons have finished in third place back-to-back seasons at state on the heels of a 6A championship in 2005. Anything less than another appearance in Topeka for state simply won’t do.

“We think we have a good shot to get back to state and be in the top three again,” South coach Ken Talcott said. “We can’t have injuries, and we must have some sophomores step up, but when you’ve got four kids the caliber of the girls we’ve talked about, you’re going to have a shot.”

Those four kids are returning starters Kaitlynn Pelger, Kelsie Hanson and Taylor Smith, and sophomore setter Emilee Clark. Pelger, a junior middle hitter, emerged as one of the most dynamic hitters in the Sunflower League last season.

Flanked by a couple powerful outside hitters, Hanson, a senior, and Smith, a junior, the Falcons, who went 30-13 last year, are certain to be a nightmare for opposing defenses.

That is, of course, only if Clark proves herself as a dominant varsity setter.

Her bloodline — she’s the sister of Middle Tennessee State University’s Leslie Clark, who was South’s setter on the 2005 title-winning team — and experience suggest it ought to be a smooth transition.

“Emilee is very skilled and actually has competed at higher levels than a lot of the setters on a lot of the teams around,” Talcott said.

The key to the Falcons offense will be getting Clark and a few unfamiliar hitters on the same page.

A year ago, the only proven player returning was setter Alyssa Rhodes, but the hitters, most notably Pelger, developed rapidly.

With a strong stable of hitters, Clark should enjoy a speedy development into a varsity star as well.

“At this juncture, in some cases, she’s ahead of where Leslie was,” Talcott said. “She’s not as tall, but she’s as fast and in some cases her hands are better. She’s a very smart and mature player.”

Sophomore Halee Balman will step in at right outside hitter with senior Jessica Hillen and sophomore Jacquelynn Steury providing depth at middle hitter.

Additional depth at outside hitter comes from junior Taylor Mays and sophomore Brooke Rinehart.

East poised for another run

Few teams in the state, much less the Sunflower League, can match Olathe East in front-line dominance.

Led by senior Brittney Kalinoski, an all-state performer as a junior, and senior Ali Boehler, who was an honorable mention all state last year, the Hawks hope to build off the greatest season in the program’s history.

East finished in 6A in 2007, reaching state for only the fourth time in Hawks history and placing for the first time.

But coach Brian Martin and his returning stable of seven varsity letterwomen know things could have been even better than the 29-13 campaign East authored.

“I think they learned that they can be successful,” Martin said. “The girls realized they could compete last year. As the season went along, it changed from hoping to finish second or third to suddenly understanding they could compete for championships. Our expectations and dreams kept getting a little bigger as the season went along.”

Those hopes, expectations and dreams already are pie-in-the-sky as 2008 approaches.

“I think we know that we can start out aiming higher this year,” Martin said.

League and state titles are out of the question.

“It’s going to be one of our long-term goals, but we’re also going to create a lot of short-term goals along the way,” Martin said. “We want to win every tournament we enter, things like that.”

In addition to Kalinoski and Boehler, along with senior middle blocker Cassie Bruner, East returns its top two defensive players as well, seniors Caitlyn Saving and Emily Plush.

Senior Cassie McClain and junior Mackenzie Russo provide depth at outside hitter.

The Hawks did lose their top setters from a year ago, however: second-team all-league setter Tessa Pettyjohn and Sammy Lorenzen.

“That was our big concern coming into tryouts this week,” Martin confessed.

But Kalinoski and sophomore Ally Klee have demonstrated more than adequate ability to handle setting duties for the Hawks.

Ravens hope for health, fun

Olathe Northwest really had a tremendous season in 2007 if you look deeper than than the 20-20 record.

Coach Bryon Larson wasn’t able to field the same lineup more than twice because seven key starters suffered significant injuries at some point during the Ravens’ run a season ago.

That kind of misfortune could derail any team, but Larson and Northwest hope for better luck, and better results, in 2008.

And there is plenty of reason for optimism.

The Ravens lost their versatile leader, Jordan Gray, to graduation, but up-and-coming standout setter Jana Berstad — one of the injury casualties a season ago — returns along with several quality outside hitters who gained varsity experience last year.

Victoria Toplikar, who set a school record with 304 digs, is back along with Amy Pierce. Tiara Burns and Gretchan Pudliner provide depth at outside hitter as well.

Kiersten Middleton also is back as ONW’s libero.

North under new leadership

Phone calls made to first-year Olathe North coach Justin Franklin went unanswered.

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