When you graduate six seniors off a team that went 28-8, the word “rebuilding” usually comes up a lot during the offseason. For the Republic Lady Tigers volleyball team, that’s not an option.
“Luckily, everybody here at Republic wants to win, and will do just about whatever it takes to win,” says head coach Piper Wright. “As a program, we have that mentality of ‘We want to win, and that’s what we do here.'”
If another winning season is on tap for Republic, it will happen without a core of players who helped build the program into one of the best in southwest Missouri. Gone are all-state setter Sarah Kreul, Alex Botkin, Brandy Glessner, Nikki Barton, and Hannah and Haley Willis. Wright says despite her optimism for the coming season, they’ll be missed.
“Some of the best kids I’ve ever worked with as far as leadership goes, not just on the floor, but off the court as well, in the classroom and in the community,” Wright says of last year’s seniors. “There are definitely some gaps to fill.”
Based on the offseason, the Lady Tigers are on the way to filling a lot of those gaps.
“We definitely are showing a lot of potential. We’ve got a couple young kids that are coming into those big holes we have from last year,” Wright says. “We’ve been in the weight room all summer, we’ve been conditioning all summer. We’ve been in a lot of shootouts and leagues and we’ve done really well.”
The Lady Tigers’ summer success included a team camp at Wichita State University, where Republic finished 3rd out of 40 teams.
“That’s always encouraging, especially when you’re playing teams you’ve never seen,” Wright says.
Republic Tiger Sports volleyball coverage is being sponsored this month by Team Wear Solutions.
One important piece of last year’s team who will be back is senior Lexi Birlew. She led the Lady Tigers in kills and digs last year, and she’ll play outside and middle back. Another senior, Haley Chastain, will also be counted on in those positions.
Senior Maddy Sherman, wearing the libero jersey this season, was second on the team in digs last year. She also will play a key role offensively, with what Wright calls “a really mean serve.” Sherman led the team in aces last year, and will look to do it again this season.
One other senior, Rachael Allen, will help out defensively, according to Wright.
Michayla Shanks, Micah Mansker and Emily Preston will also be back. Shanks will return as a key on the Lady Tigers’ right side. Preston, who stepped up through the district tournament because of injuries to the rest of the team last season, will be setting and playing right side for the Lady Tigers. Mansker, who missed about half of last season because of an injury, will bring athleticism and quickness to the middle.
Sophomores Brooke Stanfield and Mikayla Botkin also figure to see a lot of playing time. Stanfield will play in the middle, and is “a big blocker, and she’s got a really quick swing,” Wright says. Botkin will set and play the right side.
As the team takes shape in fall practice, Wright says she’s eager to see how the new pieces fall into place.
“It’s always nerve-wracking when you lose that many seniors and when you’ve had really good seasons the past couple of years, to bring all these new faces in,” she says. “But I’m definitely excited. I’m looking forward to seeing what we’re going to do.