Menu
Saxony Lutheran VB Preview: Future is still very bright for Crusaders
What’s new about Saxony Lutheran volleyball this year? The depth chart.
Eight seniors are out the door, including first-team All-District 1 outside hitter Clara Brune, second-team All-District 1 outside hitter Grace Ozark, and John A. Logan Community College freshman Landre Hoehne. While the roster possesses more youth than in recent years, head coach Stephanie Brown says that the built-in chemistry will boost their chances for continued success on the court.
“I've been with this group of seniors since they were freshmen,” head coach Stephanie Brown said. “They’re go-getters. They are constantly cheering for each other. We do a lot of control drills and loose ball drills, and they are all over the place. And then if somebody makes a great play, everybody's cheering. Somebody has a great hit, everybody's cheering. It just seems like there's good camaraderie this year.”
What’s not new? Talent and expectations. The Crusaders have plenty of both.
On the talent side of things, senior setter Isabel Brown was both an All-District 1 and All-SEMO Conference selection after leading Saxony in assists (571), aces (54)and service points (286) in 2023. A jack-of-all-trades, Brown can even affect the game as a defender, highlighted by 269 digs (second on team) and 122 service receptions (fourth on team). It’s hard to imagine what Brown can do to top her performance last year, yet there is little doubt she’ll find a way.
Camille Richey, who started at libero last season, is back after earning second-team all-district and all-conference honors as a junior. An all-around athlete who also excels on the soccer field, Richey led the Crusaders with 405 digs and 669 service receptions in 2023.
Ashley Summers and Adalina Deckerd round out the quartet of seniors who will anchor the Saxony lineup this fall. Coach Brown also noted McDowell’s early emergence in preseason camp, as she is a player who could quickly burst onto the scene as a freshman.
Although certain starting positions have yet to be confirmed, Brown noted that the versatility of her players gives the Crusaders more flexibility.
“Another thing that's unique about this team is that there's a lot of growth potential that I think could surprise a lot of people,” Brown said. “There’s also a lot of moving pieces. There's a lot of girls that can go in and out for each other. As far as the lineup goes, I don't really have anything quite set yet because there's so many things that go on and practice day in and day out that could change and do whatever.”
That’s where the expectations come in. Bumping up to Class 3 in 2023 did not stop the Crusaders from reaching the state quarterfinals for the second consecutive year or capturing a third straight district crown. Saxony has also produced 51 wins since 2022 – by far the most in a two-year stretch in school history. It sets a formidable standard for the current Crusaders to live up to.
Even with the biggest concern being experienced, Brown said that it provides a huge opportunity for the program to grow and develop even more following its historic run.
“Inexperience is not a bad thing,” Brown said. “When we lost in the quarterfinals last year to Ursuline, they were a younger team, and they played their hearts out because they didn't know what else to do. So sometimes inexperience can be a strength as long as you're just out there playing and having fun.”
The mission for this season goes beyond putting another district title banner on the wall and storming on another deep postseason run.
“We just want to be the best that we can be and represent Saxony the way that we know that we can,” Brown said.
Saxony Lutheran
Head coach: Stephanie Brown (third season)
Assistant coaches: Michael Terrell (JV coach), Ethan Koenig (freshman coach)
2023-24 results: 25-8-2, District 1 champions, MSHSAA Class 3 state quarterfinalists
Key losses: Eight seniors
Key returners: Isabel Brown (Sr.), Camille Richey (Sr.), Ashley Summers (Sr.), Adalina
Deckerd (Sr.)
Top newcomer: Kendall McDowell (Fr.)
Season opener: vs Advance, Sept. 5
Match to watch: vs Jackson, Sept. 30