(This article first appeared in the September edition of the Hendersonian. As of Friday, Sept. 11, the Lady Cols volleyball team is 8-5)
After a year when the Lady Colonels’ volleyball team made an appearance in the KHSAA state tournament, where it lost in the first round to Apollo, Henderson County hopes to return enough talent to repeat as region champions.
The Lady Cols, who finished last season 28-10 and were undefeated in both region and district play, graduated seven seniors. Among them were important hitters like Kylee Lyons and Caeson Hargitt, as well as its team leader in assists, Kamryn Raley, and its dependable libero Ella Whitledge, who led the team in digs.
“We basically only have three returning starters,” said head coach Kelli Harris. “We are fortunate that a big chunk of our juniors did play club, as well as several of our sophomores. I had several that played for me by their choice, so that helped me to know and push them to where I know that I was going to need to fill in those gaps.”
Leading the way this year will be the only two seniors, Addi Kirtley and Evangeline Loffland, as well as junior Emmy Sword.
Kirtley comes into the season with high hopes after having the second-most assists on the team last year, just behind Raley with 505. Loffland returns after leading the team with 350 kills last season as a junior. Both will be looked upon to lead and bring this year’s team together.
“I’m really hopeful about this season because all these girls have played together on varsity for a long time. We’ve all been around each other for the last three years and we’re a super close group,” Kirtley said.
Sword is an uber-talented junior who was the third-leading hitter on the team last year with 256 kills. She recognizes that there will be a big loss of talent from last year, but feels like this year the Lady Cols will work more together as a team.
“I think I’m going to have to be more energetic and vocal on the court since there aren’t as many seniors,” Sword said. “Coach keeps saying that if we work hard right now, we can be dangerous in October.”
For the team to be successful, Kirtley added that she and Loffland are going to have to step out of their comfort zones to be leaders, as they both tend to be “more reserved” people. Keeping a positive mindset will also be key.
“We have the talent and everything we need. Whenever we get low, we get grumpy, we get tired, and we lose our positive mindset. Whenever we bring that back and have that energy, we do a lot better,” Kirtley said. “We do a lot of reset work after mistakes. We do a lot of journaling every practice working on good habits, mindset and confidence.”
Harris spoke about the progress that Loffland made in the offseason, not just with her skill on the court, but in her leadership abilities, including how she helped her team manage its mindset during the Bluegrass Games this summer when they faced struggles.
“I saw her play all during the club season and she was the captain of her club team. They pushed her into situations where she had to be the voice,” Harris said. “I’ve seen her really take strides into that real solid leadership that we need on the floor.”
In the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association preseason 2nd Region poll released on August 6, HCHS was listed at the top.
“That’s where we should be,” according to Harris.
The Lady Cols will contend with other region hopefuls such as Heritage Christian, Christian County, Crittenden County, Fort Campbell and Madisonville for the title.
As if winning region and advancing past the first round of state was not motivation enough, the team is also playing for two special parents. Two courageous mothers of players on the team have been battling cancer. Despite their own hurdles, they have always provided unwavering support for the volleyball team.
“This year I’ve allowed them to go up to a pink-and-teal-type shoe because we’re trying to teach them. We want to show that we’re supporting them as a community,” Harris said. “We’re trying to teach them to support each other in more than just a game.”
Harris and her team hope that the bond this team and their community share will inspire them to win another regional championship.
