ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (Information-Press NOW) — Even in his thirty eighth 12 months in volleyball, Mid-Buchanan head coach Ron Underwood has a roster not like any he is ever seen. The Dragons completed 20-12-4 final 12 months and narrowly misplaced to rival East Buchanan within the district championship. This 12 months, they return each varsity participant however one.
“First time I’ve most likely had 11 returning varsity gamers,” Underwood mentioned. “And 5 of them final 12 months with postseason honors. It is only a actually proficient, skilled, enjoyable group and it is fairly straightforward to get enthusiastic about that.”
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Senior captains Camryn Atha, Bailey Coman and Myia Dillman lead the returners. All three obtained All-District and All-Convention honors this previous season as they dominated earlier than accidents derailed their season.
“We need to be on the prime, we need to win,” Atha mentioned. “We acquired lots of competitors however I believe we might have nice success. We simply acquired to maintain working.”
Atha returns as one of many staff’s exterior hitters, a place the Dragons have locked down with two of one of the best within the state. The high-flying Atha was second on the staff in kills per set earlier than lacking half the 12 months with an harm. 4-year varsity participant Bailey Coman roams beside her as Mid-Buchanan’s center hitter and was second on the staff in kills and blocks. The 2 seniors are paired with among the finest athletes within the space in Dillman. Dillman returns to her place as setter, the place she recorded 877 assists final 12 months.
“Now we have performed lots of volleyball collectively,” Dillman mentioned. “So we’re not likely having to study loads about one another so we’re at all times connecting.”
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The three seniors paved the way however deliver again among the finest volleyball gamers within the state to be their working mate. Junior Tatum Moss returns after main the staff in kills and digs by a large margin. Moss obtained unanimous first-team All-Convention and All-District honors earlier than being named to the Class 2 All-State staff. The leap between sophomore and junior 12 months is traditionally one of many largest for highschool athletes. It is arduous to think about what a step up would seem like after final 12 months’s marketing campaign, however Moss appears to be like to take one other one after establishing herself as one in every of Missouri’s prime gamers in Class 2 as an underclassman.
“I get requested, ‘what’s a dream staff?'” Underwood mentioned. “For me, and I informed these guys that, I mentioned ‘a dream staff to me is 5 gamers with 250 to 350 kills apiece, all people hits .280 or higher. And I do not see why that may’t occur this 12 months. They do not care who will get the kill, it is so enjoyable to observe that.'”
What’s already a star-studded solid is made even higher by depth. The Dragons return junior and second-team All-District choice Myla Flinn together with sophomores Camilia Mejia and Bentley Barton, each of whom obtained important varsity time final season.
With a lot depth, Underwood appears to be like to run a rotation with 9 gamers. By all of it, the starters are made that significantly better by going in opposition to second- and third-stringers in observe, as a lot of them have the expertise to start out.
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“They know,” Underwood mentioned of the depth and what meaning to the youthful gamers. “Everyone can have their day.”
Returning that a lot expertise means lots of the main target might be on Mid-Buchanan this 12 months. A bunch that has seen lots of success in seasons previous will search for extra because it doubtless will get each opponent’s greatest shot.
“We undoubtedly have a goal on our again this 12 months,” Dillman mentioned. “However we even have opponents which have targets on their again that we’re form of after this 12 months. We simply want for a greater season, hopefully to go to state.”
For Mid-Buchanan, expectations are excessive after seeing how a lot the group completed final season, even by way of adversity. With a lot expertise returning, the Dragons have their sights set on enjoying as late into the season as attainable. With the MSHSAA State Volleyball Event being held at Civic Area in St. Joseph, the group has a novel alternative to chase that purpose near dwelling.
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“I actually need to go all the way in which with my buddies to state this 12 months,” Coman mentioned. “Undoubtedly simply do properly. I do know that it is approach simpler mentioned than executed and we now have lots of good (competitors) round. However undoubtedly all the way in which with these women.”
Even getting into his thirty eighth 12 months, Underwood remains to be seeing loads of firsts with this group.
“Often you begin at a spot and all year long you get a little bit greater after which you have got your ending place, you then go down a little bit within the offseason and also you begin once more,” Underwood mentioned. “That is most likely one of the best beginning place that we have ever been.”