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| Jerry Jarrell photo Pictured above are the members of the 2008 Dexter Lady Bearcats varsity volleyball team. They are (from left) Brittany Bedford, McKenzie Mitchell, Cathryn Heil, Abigail Warren, Elisha Flanigan, Jessica Satterfield and Kayla Joyner. |
Dexter hasn't won a district volleyball title since 2000, but with four of six starters returning with varsity experience and good senior leadership, the Lady Bearcats could end their state playoff drought in 2008.
Last season was a disappointing "developmental year," according to Dexter coach Kris Vandeven, as the Lady Bearcats failed to post 20 wins, finishing 16-15-1 overall, 4-3 in the Stoddard County Activities Association (SCAA) conference. Dexter is the largest school in the conference, but still could only manage a fourth place finish in the league and second in Class 3, District 1 tournament.
Two of the area's best are Cathryn Heil and Jessica Satterfield, who return for their senior seasons after leading the Lady 'Cats in almost every statistical category in 2007. Both players were all-conference picks and both were honored with first team all-district status and slots on the conference all-tournament team. The duo also received second team All-Region honors.
"I expect Jess (Jessica Satterfield) and Cat (Cathryn Heil) to be our team leaders this season," Vandeven said. "They have worked hard over the past year to become really dominant players at the net. They have big jobs to do for our team, as they're our two setters and also two of our power hitters. They are enthusiastic about the game of volleyball and I look for them to give their last year their all."
Also returning for their second season of varsity play are junior Abigail Warren (second team all-district) and senior Kayla Joyner. Vandeven hopes with four players returning with varsity experience, the "growing pains" of last season will set the stage for the team to get off to a quick start when they go on the road for the season-opener against district rival Kennett, Tuesday.
Rounding out the seven-player varsity roster will be junior Brittany Bedford, freshman McKenzie Mitchell and sophomore Elisha Flanigan. Bedford appears to be the replacement for graduated Brooke Thrower, the team's Libero ast year.
"I look for this team to improve with each practice and each game," Vandeven pointed out. "This is a very coachable group of girls who have a lot of heart and also have a fierce competitive nature about them. They did play well at Arkansas State University (ASU) team camp this summer, finishing second in the gold bracket of the camp tournament.
"I'm hoping they can start off playing well and keep the momentum going throughout the season. If we can stay healthy and just keep our heads on straight, it will be an enjoyable season for the Lady Bearcats."
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As big as Dexter is they only have 7 girls who want to play Varsity Volleyball? What's wrong with this picture? Could it be that the coach has her favorites and if your not one, don't even try out?
I've heard some very interesting things about the high school Volleyball program that has not set well..... as big as Dexter is on winning and fielding the best team possible.
Also would be interested in why Dexter does not compete for in District softball, which is played in the fall. Seems like a waste of time to play Stoddard Co. softball in the spring with NOTHING at stake. Anyone with the reasons behind this, shoot.
The volleyball program at Dexter is a very good one. The coach is awesome and really cares about the girls. There are other things going on at the same time that volleyball is going on so the girls have more or a choice of which sport to do now. The coach plays the best girls of the team and always does her best to play every girl during a game.
sportsfan that is a load..... I know 3 girls who are at a loss when it comes to trying to please the volleyball coach that chose not to play this year and I'm sure there are others. It's not just the varsity squad either.
As much as Dexter wants to win in all sports I can't believe that they are not hearing the complaints for not fielding the best team possible.
Sportsbra must be talking about tennis as being the other choice? Still want to hear from someone as to why Dexter plays softball as a joke and doesn't compete for a District title in the Fall. 1A schools do and also have a volleyball team. Just curious. Don't know anything about DHS volleyball or the coach. I haven't met a coach yet who didn't want to win and either sat or kicked off the best players because they didn't "like" them. Stangk sounds like a disgruntled parent to me, but again, I don't know much about the situation. I always thought that coaches had favorites and should have......my favorites would be the players who worked the hardest, were the best teammates, tried their damndest to please the coach, represented the school in positive ways, were great role models for youngsters, respected a coaches decisions, etc. I can't imagine this volleyball coach running off favorites like these.
The problem with Dexter vb is not the coach. Many of our students choose not to play because they found out they are not good enough to play every game like they did when their parents were coach in P& R ball. Daddy Ball doesn't cut it in high school.