Young Saxony VB squad is balanced in its ability as it evolves

The Saxony Lutheran High School volleyball squad prepares to set a shot against Dexter recently at the Bearcat Event Center.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

With just four seniors out of her 31 athletes in her program, Saxony Lutheran High School volleyball coach Stephanie Brown isn’t overly concerned with her team being perfect early this season.

The Crusaders (6-4-1) have had an up-and-down journey through the first part of this fall, but have shown glimpses of being the Saxony Lutheran program that every opponent has come to know through recent seasons.

“When (the players) are excited,” Brown said, “they play very, very well. When they keep their fire up.”

The Crusaders had a strong showing in the recent Dig For Life Tournament, as they went 3-0-1 in their opening four matches.

Saxony Lutheran beat Thayer, Seckman, and Central (Park Hills) each by 2-0 margins and tied MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 foe Dexter 1-1.

Brown’s group closed the event by falling to a 10-win Cape Central squad 2-0.

“We’ve got to figure out how to keep that fire and that determination through all of the sets,” Brown said.

Saxony Lutheran has four seniors (Isabel Brown, Adalina Deckard, Camille Richey, and Ashley Summers). That group has been part of a program that has won 66 matches and three District championships.

Through the last four seasons, Saxony Lutheran has won 79 matches and four consecutive District titles.

“We’re young,” Brown said, “and we’re going to have some growing pains this year. But as long as you peak at the right time, that is all that matters.”

The Crusaders have now faced Dexter (7-2-1) twice (losing 3-1 and tying in the Dig For Life), a team that blanked Cape Central 3-0 recently and finished 3-1-1 in the Dig For Life Tournament.

The two programs could meet again in the postseason.

“We know Dexter is one,” Brown said of her District opponents. “But that wasn’t on our minds (when playing them). We’re just trying to focus on what we can do, and what we can try to do to win the game, not worry about who is on the other side of the net.”

Brown said this team is balanced in their ability.

“I feel like we are strong all the way around,” Brown said. “We usually play pretty scrappy defense, and we have some girls who can put the ball away at times.

“We’re pretty well rounded.”

The Crusaders will visit Woodland (7-4-1) tonight at 6:30 p.m. and host a very good Valle Catholic team (6-1-1) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.