With several key contributors returning from last year’s state championship team, the Liberty Christian Academy Lady Eagles expect to compete for their third consecutive Missouri Christian School Athletic Association title.
After winning titles in 2020 and 2021, the Lady Eagles return three senior starters to the squad this year. Head coach Bill Ball expects the three seniors to lead the Lady Eagles this season.
Liberty Christian will be led by seniors Kylee Ball, Alli Meyer and Anna Meyer. Ball led the Lady Eagles last season with 259 digs and 199 serve receptions. She finished second on the team with 167 kills, 66 aces and 32 total blocks. Alli Meyer led the Lady Eagles with 78 aces. She also finished in the top-five among all Lady Eagle players last season with 65 kills and 125 digs. Anna Meyer led the team with 304 assists. She also finished in the top-five among all Lady Eagle players with 179 digs, 38 aces and 32 kills.
The Lady Eagles had four seniors on last year’s team, three of which were heavy hitters for the team. Ball is counting on the three returning senior starters and other players who had varsity experience last year to help Liberty Christian in their quest to return to the state championship game.
“We’re going to rely on our senior leadership and see how the younger players develop,” Ball said. “And that’s really how our year’s going to be defined is how these ones that are stepping in for the ones that graduated how they perform. A lot of it’s going to define our season. Whether we go back and win it all or whether we don’t get what we want.”
This year’s team is a pretty tight-knit group, Ball said. He thinks they are a balanced team. With a few seniors graduating from last year’s team, the Lady Eagles will need players to step up and be contributors in certain spots. Ball already has seen certain players step up to fill those spots.
“I think we’ll have a really solid season,” Ball said. “We’re a good team. We were really solid last year. Our depth isn’t going to be as good but we’re going to run six out there that know what they’re doing. I think we’ll be ready. As ready as we can be for early season.”
The Lady Eagles won their first game of the season last week. They defeated Providence Classical Christian Academy 3-0. They won the three sets 25-16, 25-6, 25-9.
Ball stressed the Lady Eagles’ goal is to win another state championship. Most key contributors on this year’s team were either a part of last year’s team on the court or were on the team during last year’s state championship run.
Ball stressed Liberty Christian sets out to win each and every game. However, the main goal is to play good volleyball.
“I think that’s a really good goal for everybody on this team,” Ball said. “Give it 100%. Be the best player you can be. If I can make every single one the best player they can be, then I’ve done my job, win or lose. And there’s a lot of times I think that you can win big and still play terrible volleyball. So my thing is give me clean, quality volleyball, and we’ll be alright.”
The Lady Eagles will square off against Christian Fellowship next week.