By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorWith a young mind leading the Warrenton volleyball program this season, a fast-paced offensive attack will be looked upon to provide great success.First-year Warriors Head Coach Kristen McDowell believes with a strong senior class, she will be able to implement a dangerous offense.“Myself as a player, I came from a quick offense,” said the 22-year-old McDowell, who played volleyball at Webster University. “This team has very capable and gifted upperclassmen, who are ready to run a fast-paced tempo. We’ve spent a few practices just working on offensive plays and quick plays.”Seniors Nicole Hardt and Morgan Boesel return after standout seasons. Both earned GAC North All-Conference honors and helped Warrenton post its second straight 18-win season.Hardt posted a career-high 100 blocks while finishing third in kills with 91.“Nicole is not foreign to a quick offense, so she’s going to be the big hitter in the middle for us,” said McDowell of the four-year varsity starter who has 239 career blocks. “She’s very smart and knows where to be. She can help us set the tone with big hits and will be great on defense for us.”In her first season with Warrenton, Boesel provided a game-changing presence. Last season, the outside hitter finished with a team-best 36 aces, 186 kills and a 26.73 kill percentage.“Morgan is going to be a big go-to hitter for us,” McDowell said. “I want all my hitters positive. As long as we can have more kills than errors and be consistent, I’m going to be a happy coach.”However, statistics aren’t everything to the new coach. Instead, she emphasizes to her team at practice the concept of playing together rather than for oneself.“You don’t want to be remembered as the player who had the most kills or the most aces, you want to be remembered as the player who was dominant on the court all the time,” McDowell said. “I want them to focus on being consistent as a team instead of individuals.”Anna Sutherland, Chyanne Schwerdt and Ellie Stapleton provide senior leadership for the Warriors as well.“We have such a strong group of seniors who have been playing together for so long,” McDowell said. “The younger girls look up to them. The leadership has been tremendous in practices and the seniors feel as if they mesh with this team better than any team they’ve been a part of yet.”Junior Allison May returns with the most experience of any setter and finished with 24 aces in her first varsity season.Through practices, scrimmages and a jamboree, Warrenton likes what it has seen from its fast and furious offense.“The girls and I have been on the same page with our plays in the offense,” McDowell said. “We expect it to serve as an advantage for us throughout the season. We have to keep working on it, but I like where we are at.”The goal for the 2015 season is quite clear for the experienced roster.“After the first day we selected our team roster, they set the goal to win the conference title this season,” McDowell said. “The district title is just as important. Our motto is ‘Win, baby, win.’ ”The Warriors will open the season on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Bowling Green.“It hasn’t hit me yet, but it will once we get to Bowling Green,” McDowell said. “It’s been a whirlwind already. I’m so ready to play because I know the girls are where they need to be.”
Senior Nicole Hardt (7) led Warrenton with 100 blacks last season and also finished third with 91 kills. Hardt is expected to be a key to a fast paced offense for Head Coach Kristen McDowell.
Derrick Forsythe photo.
