Hendrix steps into leadership role for Hornet's volleyball

Holcomb High School's Chloe Hendrix (6) bumps the ball during Class 1 Sectional match versus Bell City. File Photo by Eric Viccaro.

HOLCOMB, Mo. - Holcomb volleyball player Chloe Hendrix recalls the Missouri Class 1 District 1 tournament as her favorite moment in her career.

As the number one seed at the District tournament, the Hornets received a bye in the first round. The team went on to beat South Pemiscot and faced Southland in the championship game. Holcomb did not drop a single set against both South Pemiscot and Southland, completing an all around sweep, to become the 2023 Class 1 District 1 Champions.

“I loved winning that district championship with my best friends,” Hendrix said. “It was really exciting, but it was also kind of bitter sweet at the same time because I knew that I would never have this moment with those seniors again.”

The Hornets had five seniors graduate this year. This included Maleigh Lemings, Kaetlyn Danley and Jasmine White who Hendrix considered some of her closest friends.

The roster also had 14 underclassmen and four juniors. One of those juniors was Hendrix who was able to spend the last three seasons with this graduating class.

“It was a fun season,” Hendrix said. “I really liked all of the seniors this year. I liked playing with them. They were athletic and competitive. They loved just playing sports. Volleyball wasn’t even their favorite but they were definitely really good at it. They were just good people to have around.”

Now, as Hendrix enters her final season with the Hornets, she is expected to step up and be a leader for the younger members of the team.

According to Hendrix, she is excited to help her teammates and share her love and dedication for this sport with them.

“I’m really close with everyone on the team,” Hendrix said. “I played a lot with them during the club season. I just want to motivate them and not scare them because I know I am a little overly competitive sometimes.”

Hendrix said this competitiveness is a result of having an older sister who plays collegiate volleyball and a mom who is a volleyball coach.

Amber Hixson is the assistant coach for Holcomb, and as Hendrix’s mom, Hixson has also coached Hendrix throughout her volleyball career.

 In the off-season, Hixson has helped organize a local club team with Amy Cowart from Clarkton High School to help her players get stronger and grow better volleyball IQ.

Hendrix and her teammates participated in the Bootheel SMASH volleyball league and played on a club team called SWARM.

According to Hixson, all of Hendrix’s teammates participated in the club and worked hard in the off-season in preparation for this upcoming fall.

Chloe Hendrix playing volleyball for Pursuit as a freshman. Photo Provided.

“We did club for two years to make everyone stronger,” Hixson said. “I think they are going to have another really good season because she gets to play with those girls who invested two years in the club teams so we can be strong.”

Hendrix actually got her start in volleyball through Bootheel SMASH when she was 7 years old. Hixon and Cowart started the league so their daughters could play volleyball together and learn the sport.

Hixon was coaching high school volleyball at Malden when Hendrix and her sister were younger. In her youth, Hendrix was constantly being exposed to the sport she has now grown to love.

“I coached for ten years when they were little,” Hixon said. “So my daughters were in a gym their entire life. They were both gym rats in the volleyball gym.”

Head coach Matt Casper said Hendrix’s volleyball IQ is one of the highest he has seen. 

According to Casper, he thinks it is because she has been around the sport her whole life.

“It shows on the court that she has been around the game a lot,” Casper said. “As a team, we really rely on her.”

This season, after leading Holcomb to a district championship, Hendrix was announced as a finalist for volleyball player of the year at the Semoball Awards. The Hornets had a 21-11-2 record in the fall behind Hendrix’s 223 kills, 84 aces and 414 digs. She also recorded 62 assists and 12 blocks. 

Due to her stat line and tenacity, Hendrix earned First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Districts. She did this while taking a new position as middle this season for the Hornets.

According to Casper, Hendrix is a player who can do anything from any position on the court.

“She had never played middle,” Casper said. “But she is a good hitter, good passer and was a good setter for us. She can do it all and we have actually had to have her do it all over these last three years. I am looking forward to her senior season.”

For Hendrix, she is just thankful to make it to this point of her career. 

She wants to show gratitude for all of her coaches and her teammates for helping her grow throughout the years.

“I was really a hot head my freshman year,” Hendrix said. “I struggled and I had people there to help me so now I want to grow into that role to help others who struggle. I want to help my teammates  and I want them to look up to me.”

The Semoball awards will be hosted on July 12 at LaCroix Church at Cape Girardeau. A red carpet appearance will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the award ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.