By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorWith the start of a new season, the Wright City volleyball team already has two specific dates circled: Sept. 1 and Sept. 14.Those matches will be played on the road against Centralia and Warrenton, respectively, two teams the Wildcats were narrowly edged out by last season in James Baker’s first year as head coach.“We came up with a goal this year to beat a couple teams that we haven’t in the past that we’ve come really close to beating,” Baker said. “Both of those games were really close last year and we considered those to be statement games. We want to win some of those big games we let slip away.”While first-team all-conference selection Emily Janowski’s presence will be missed after a standout senior season, her sister and a pair of Eastern Missouri Conference selections look to carry over the success from a 15-10 record in 2014.Baker expects Amy Janowski to assume leadership in nearly the same role her sister played as a reliable outside hitter.“I think she is going to fill the shoes of her sister Emily really well,” Baker said. “I think she is going to come in and be just as good.”What impressed Baker about his sophomore’s performance was her poise on the court and her calm demeanor.“She’s a very hard worker and it takes little to get her frustrated,” he said. “If something is not working out, she makes the adjustments on her own. She works hard and plays hard all the time. She has a leadership quality about herself too.”Janowski will look to be the recipient of several kills this season, set up by returning senior setter Sam Benson and senior libero Sydnee Horneker, who both enter this season looking to follow up their conference honors.Benson led the Wildcats with 327 assists, while Horneker topped all last season with 94 digs and 173 serve receives.Amber Schulte is expected to have a strong season as a setter while Abbie Nitchman and Keisha Thompson look to provide blocks and kills at the middle blocker position.“We did lose a top-notch outside hitter, but I think this year we are going to be even better because of the girls we return who played strong roles last season,” Baker said. “We also have a lot of new girls who will help make an impact.”This summer, the majority of the Wright City volleyball members played on summer teams and took advantage of open gym time.“One of the parents put together a club volleyball team and a lot of the girls played on that team and if they didn’t, they were on some other team,” Baker said. “They work very well together and trust each other. They know how each other plays.”With six of the first seven contests for the Wildcats away from home to begin the new campaign, Baker hopes his team comes out with the will to fight right out of the gate.“They’ve worked hard all summer and we are excited to start the season,” he said. “We want to top the record we had last season. We are at least trying to come out a game ahead of that.”Wright City will open the season with a road contest against Bowling Green on Aug. 27 at 5 p.m.“Our offense and defense should be strong this season,” Baker said. “We want to accomplish things this season that last year we fell just short of. Warrenton and Centralia are games we want to win very badly.”Close outcomes have now turned into rivalry games for the Wildcats.“Every team has a game or two on its schedule that means a little more than the rest, whether it’s because of past outcomes or just an established rivalry,” Baker said. “We hope once the season is over with that we can cross these two contests off our list of some of our top accomplishments. We embrace the challenge.”

Amy Janowski will be looked upon to help finish rallies this season for Wright City with her strong presence as an outside hitter. The junior has shown signs of leadership and is expected to have a strong season for the Wildcats.

Derrick Forsythe photo.