Xs AND Os. Volleyball head coach Sarah Rochleau demonstrated a workout drill she marked up at practice. Every year, Rochleau creates a routine inspired by one of her seniors. This time, she based the drill on Kelsie Hansel, with her FFA roots. The Lady Eagles split into two groups, competing to see who could finish it the fastest. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
AVA TODD will enter her junior season on the court. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
ACE OF THE GAME. Ava Blankenship (right), who led the Lady Eagles in attacks and kills last year, will continue to make her mark on the court. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
Volleyball Gets Set For New Season
The Lady Eagles are getting set to soar and ready to take the court for 2024. They will shake off their rust at a home jamboree on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 5:30 p.m. They will play scrimmages with Owensville and Potosi.
Sullivan will also host their season opener against Blair Oaks on Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Head coach Sarah Rochleau hopes to lead the Lady Eagles to their third consecutive district championship appearance. Her new assistants, Avery Carey and Tabatha Ransom, will join her on the staff.
Sullivan won a district title in 2022 but fell in a tight contest against St. Clair the following year. Now, the Lady Eagles are more eager than ever to clinch another trip to state. They also aim to improve their conference record after going 2-5 in 2023.
Rochleau says that despite her varsity squad “playing a very tough regular season schedule,” Sullivan is “looking to be competitive in all of [their] matches while trying to peak at the right time.”
She says that to prepare for their opponents, the Lady Eagles will be “working to improve [their] serve and pass game while also emphasizing team defense” in practice.
For this year’s slate of games, Rochleau most looks forward to taking her girls to the West Plains Quad on Sept. 21. She described it as “always a great experience in that we get to see some of the best teams from a different area of the state.”
In 2024, Rochleau expects the “more experienced players to really step up and be ready to lead.” She listed senior Stevi Saling and juniors Abby Record, Ava Todd, Ava Blankenship and Allie Brune as leaders who “bring quite a bit of varsity experience to the table.” Seniors Trinity Midyett and Kelsie Hansel “will look to contribute in the back row and front row, respectively.”
She is also excited to see sophomores Karlee Head, Chloe Carson, Sydney Montee and Andi Giebler “who will be filling some key roles left by last year’s seniors.”