Aug. 26—After graduating six of their seven starters, Creston volleyball is looking to rebuild on the shoulders of senior varsity returners Hope Henderson and Nora Barton.
"Hope is obviously going to be a big piece of this team," head coach Naomi Sharp said. "I think Hope's going to be a lot more of a vocal leader than she ever has in the past. She's never had that role because she's had those girls the year above her that obviously are very vocal."
Henderson logged 86 kills last year and had 20 blocks. Her blocks were the second most on the team. She had a 90.6% serving efficiency, scoring on 11 aces.
While Nora didn't start on varsity, she was a big part of the back row and a consistent server. She tallied 89 digs and 12 aces with a 95.3% serving efficiency.
"Nora's that quiet leader. She's not going to be super vocal, but she'll lead by example. She works hard. Anything you ask of her, she just delivers," Sharp said. "She's a really great server. She has a really sneaky short serve that looks like it's going to go long, and it literally drops as soon as it goes over the net."
The team will need to fill the setting role, one that was held by all-conference player Kadley Bailey. Junior Marlee Stalker set on junior varsity all of last year, and will be stepping up to the varsity starting spot this season.
While the Panthers went with a one-setter offense last season, Sharp said she'd love to find another setter.
One option is Kennedy Strider, but the team will rely on her hitting ability. "If I'm having her and Hope be my main hitters, that's really hard to ask when she hasn't set varsity to set and be a main hitter. Most people don't have the stamina," Sharp said. "She didn't have a huge role on our team last year, but she came in in some moments. I would throw her to the wolves as a sub."
Other varsity newcomers Sharp said to be on the watch for this season include juniors Ricci Johnston, Jensan Tussey, Henley Shinn and Rohwyn Randall.
"Where the pieces are fitting, I'm still trying to figure that out," Sharp said. "Bentleigh Collier's probably going to see a little bit of time hitting too, in some capacity. She's coming along."
As far as the conference outlook goes, the Panthers will face a new Hawkeye 10 lineup with the removal of Shenandoah, Red Oak and Lewis Central and the addition of Carroll.
Last season, Red Oak took the title with a clean 10-0 conference record. Kuemper Catholic was second with 9-1 and in third was Lewis Central with an 8-2 record. Creston finished 5-5 in the conference standings, placing seventh out of 11.
This year, Sharp has her eye on Clarinda, fourth last season, and Kuemper Catholic.
"Clarinda, they're going to be good again," she said. "They're returning their really good freshman setter, and one of the sisters that was an outside hitter, she's returning. The other one graduated. Carroll Kuemper, they're always good. They don't have a bad team, I swear."
From the outside, it looks like a benefit for the Panthers to no longer have Red Oak and Lewis Central as competition, but Sharp isn't happy about it.
"I'm actually kind of bummed they left because they're always good competition," Sharp said. She's hoping to still get Red Oak on the schedule this season.
The Panthers travel to Carlisle Thursday to play the home team, Oskaloosa and West Marshall in a non-conference quad. They open conference play with tough competition at Kuemper Catholic Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Creston's home opener is Thursday, Sept. 3 where they will host Winterset.
VARSITY ROSTER
Seniors:
Alainah Galanakis
Nora Barton
Hope Henderson
Kennedy Strider
Juniors:
Ricci Johnston
Henley Shinn
Rohwyn Randall
Jensan Tussey
Marlee Stalker
Sophomores:
Bentleigh Collier
Freshmen:
Charlotte Ide
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