By Jason Lawrence
Special to the Citizen
With five upperclassmen returning this season, the Park Hill volleyball team is well equipped to compete in the tough Suburban Conference Gold Division.
Despite the losses of all-conference and district setter Kayla Huffman, as well as middle hitter Kai Welsh, a three-year starter who signed with Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, and three-year starting libero Madison Michaelis, a Pittsburg State signee, coach Lindsey Hood said her team is up to the challenge of following up a 21-13 season that ended with a runner-up finish in the Class 4 District 16 Tournament to rival Park Hill South for the second consecutive season.
“As a staff, we are looking forward to working with this group of girls,” said Hood, who is assisted by Kat Beile, Bridget Gronniger, Emily Tobin and Sarah McKenna. “Over the summer, we identified many different skills we need to improve on and everyone is up for the challenge.
“We are hoping to compete at a high level with the competitive conference that we are in. All of our conference teams have top players from the area which makes every game night a tough, competitive night.”
File photo
Park Hill's Rachel Pella (20) and Sabrina Lane (21) go up for a block during a game last year against Park Hill South.
Senior Rachel Pella, a three-year starter at middle blocker who earned second team all-district and honorable mention all-conference honors a season ago leads a group that also includes seniors Kori Smith, libero; Landyn Powell, setter; Sabrina Lowe, who was honorable mention all-conference and all-district in 2017; and junior Alyssa Ramos, who will see more time this season in the defensive rotation.
Sophomores Kristen Birmingham, an honorable mention all-district outside hitter who has verbally committed to Oklahoma, Hannah Graves and Aile Aiono also return after contributing as freshmen. Hood listed junior Aliyah Lyons, who will help run the offense as a setter, and freshman Valencia Zamora, a versatile defender, as newcomers who will see meaningful varsity minutes.
“We will continue to compete in a tough conference, trying to improve each game, each week,” Hood said. “Every game feels like a big game. It has been challenging making sure we are mentally and physically ready for each competition.”