Lady Bearcats ride optimism into year

Dexter senior Cali White sets the ball during volleyball practice Monday at the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.

DAR/Mike Buhler

DEXTER — Optimism was the order of the day on Monday as the Dexter Lady Bearcats volleyball team kicked off practice for its upcoming season.

This is a very special group,” Dexter coach Haylee Orf said. “The chemistry is incredible. We started open gyms back in April this year, got us going a little earlier, and we had a lot of girls able to come. The seniors are an incredible group of leaders — and I think the leadership we’re going to see this year is going to keep us high throughout the season.”

Last season, Dexter finished 17-14, finishing behind second Class 1 state champion Advance in both the Stoddard County Athletic Association regular season and in the SCAA Tournament.

“Last year, we struggled a little bit with height and just learning how to put the ball in different places to compete with these bigger schools and bigger teams that we like to compete with,” Orf said. “I think back-row attacking and just having multiple hitters available on the court, learning where we can dump and utilize the setter and those hitters, getting kills that aren’t necessarily hit straight down — getting kills any way we need to get them — that stuff is really starting to come together.

“Our offense has gotten quicker and we have four hitters ready to hit on the court at all times. I think putting those things together (plus) these girls and their chemistry is going to set us up for an excellent and fun year.”

So what does Orf believe her team needs to do to succeed this year?

“I think we need to push that ball around, switch the directions of the ball, serve aggressively, have excellent serve-receive and be able to find the open holes on the court,” Orf said. “I think improving our blocking game — we’re going to be working heavily on defense and blocking — and I think that if we can lock in on those two, I think our hitting will come around.

“Those back-row attacks seem to be a lot harder for the other team to line up those blocks on. We started working a lot on that last year, and it seems to be coming together pretty well at this point.”

Among those back for the Lady Bearcats is Kate Nichols, one of Dexter High School’s top all-around athletes.

“She shined for us out there as a setter and outside hitter,” Orf said of Nichols. This year, we’re actually going to be running a 5-1 with Kate Nichols as a defensive specialist and an outside hitter, and Cali White is our other senior who’s going to be running the 5-1 as a setter.”

Avery Riley will be the Lady Bearcats’ libero and a defensive specialist this season, while Liz Bolin will play as a middle hitter and occasionally on the right side.

“Avery’s really turned it on and proved herself on deserving that spot,” Orf said. … (Liz’s) blocking and her movement on the front row has improved so much over the last couple years, and I’m excited to see what she adds to the plate this year.”

Dexter’s successes during the summer has given Orf and the Lady Bearcats cause for optimism. The Lady Bearcats went 6-2-1 against a rugged at a camp in Branson, won at least two Rib City tournaments and made it to the championship at a day camp at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois.”

“I could not be more proud of these girls, their attitude, effort and all the work they poured in prior to this season,” Orf said. “I think that if fans come to support these girls, they’re not going to be disappointed. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”