With three wins in its first four matches, the Liberty Christian girls’ volleyball team is off to a strong start.
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With three wins in its first four matches, the Liberty Christian girls’ volleyball team is off to a strong start.
The funny thing is, though, as senior Caroline Keller puts it, the team has yet to hit the ceiling of its capabilities.
“We started off great with serving and hitting, but we still have plenty of room for improvement,” Keller said. “I’m looking forward to a great season. We are working on communicating on the court and working as a team. Our hitting is strong, but we'll keep developing our skills.”
The team opened the season with a hard-fought five-set win over Heritage Academy of Fenton on August 25 and, most recently, swept Providence Christian of South St. Louis on September 1.
Liberty Coach Dakota Ball said that he’s pleased with what he’s seen in the earliest stages of the season.
“The season is going about as well as we could have hoped, and we are excited about the direction this group is heading,” Ball said. “Caroline has been a consistent presence for us and continues to push the team every day. Marielle ‘MJ’ Moss and Kendra Pfitzinger have carried much of our attacking presence and have continued to step up offensively when we need them. Our senior group as a whole has really started to pull together. They are working hard, holding each other accountable and providing the leadership we need as we move deeper into the season.”
Statistically, Pfitzinger leads the team by averaging 2.0 kills per game, while Moss is adding 1.8 and Keller 1.5.
Bailey Minderman is pacing the team with 21 service aces while Keller has added 19.
Ball has lauded Minderman’s individual growth so far this season and noted how it has helped the entire team.
“One of the biggest developments for our team has been Bailey at setter,” Ball said. “After serving as our libero last season, Bailey transitioned into the full-time setting role this year. She has embraced the challenge and continues to grow into the position every practice and every match. It has been exciting to watch her become more comfortable and confident running our offense.”
Other team leaders to date have included Minderman with a 92-percent service percentage, Pfitzinger with .5 blocks per game and Minderman with 9.4 assists per game.
Liberty Christian will next take the court at 4:30 p.m. today (Thursday) at home against Crosspoint Christian.
Ball said he wants to see the team keep improving and work hard to get the most out of every opportunity they have together on the court.
“Overall, this group is working hard every chance they get and continually pushing its limits, whether that is in practice or during matches,” Ball said. “We know the toughest part of our schedule is still ahead of us, but we are excited to see what the rest of the season holds as we prepare for the heart of our schedule.”
