Dexter VB is on a roll and a new libero is doing her part

Dexter High School senior libero Avery Riley dives for a dig in a recent match against Saxony Lutheran at the Bearcat Event Center.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The Dexter High School volleyball squad is off to its most successful start in nine seasons this fall, and there are several reasons as to why that is the case, including solid play from a surprising source in senior Avery Riley.

“I’ve been extremely proud of her effort,” second-year Bearcat coach Haylee Orf said recently of Riley. “Her focus has improved so much over the past couple of years.”

The Bearcats (9-2-1) go for win No. 10 today at Woodland (8-6) at 7:15 p.m.

Aside from a 4-2 loss to a 10-win Valle Catholic team in the recent Dig For Life Tournament, as well as a 3-0 road loss to a 12-win Jackson group, Dexter has dropped just three sets in its other 10 matches, which have included wins over Saxony Lutheran (seven wins), St. Vincent (nine wins), Seckman (11 wins), and Cape Central (13 wins).

The Bearcats’ defensive play has been impressive at times, which has been a pleasant surprise because Riley is new this fall to the starting lineup.

“She struggled to get playing time last year (behind senior Brooke Lasater),” Orf explained. “Avery was our backup.”

The Bearcats played a lot of off-season matches, which allowed Riley to gain experience, and it is paying dividends.

“She is getting great at staying on the front of her feet,” Orf said, “and covering off that net and getting those digs up off the blocks.”

There are times when Riley’s lack of experience shows, but she continues to improve.

“She struggled on (the) cross-net hole,” Orf said following a challenging win over MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 opponent Saxony Lutheran recently at the Bearcat Event Center. “Every time that (Saxony Lutheran) would go to that left side, it seemed like she’d miss that cross and get stuck behind the blocks.”

Dexter High School senior libero Avery Riley readies for the next play in a recent match against Saxony Lutheran at the Bearcat Event Center. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

Orf has adjusted the Dexter defensive alignment this season, which has put some new players in differing roles.

“We have always run our libero from the middle back until this year,” Orf said. “We are really trying to focus on keeping hitters in the middle back, who can keep that ball over, and keeping a left back libero or a left back strong (defensive setter) to dig those balls out of the net, which is typically what you see a lot of teams do.

“We have really switched what (Riley) was working on in the first couple of years, but again, she has improved so much.”

Riley will help her team in this busy week of matches, as Dexter will host Sikeston (3-9) on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. and on the road at Bell City (9-6-2) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“She is really starting to push off the front of those feet and not popping up with that ball nearly as much,” Orf concluded. “I have been very proud of her head for staying strong and stable.

“If she does have an error pop up, she is getting much better at locking in and continuing to get in there and get right back to it.”