Four letter-winners, including three seniors, are scheduled to start tonight for the Joplin High School volleyball team as the Eagles entertain Carl Junction in the opener for both teams.
Veterans for the Eagles, according to second-year head coach Staci Saunders, are senior libero Jenna Herr, senior middle hitter Olivia Hampton, senior setter Erin Lawellin and junior outside hitter Anna Banwart.
Hampton, 6-foot-1, paced the 2011 Eagles in blocks
“Olivia also is our team leader on the court,” Saunders said on Monday.
Completing the probable starters, Saunders said, are junior outside hitters Bekah Bjorklund and Leah Rader and junior middle hitter Jacqueline Lieurance.
Joplin has a fourth senior in defensive specialist Allie Pederson.
Juniors Sidnee Palmer and Hunter Winkle complete the current varsity roster.
The Eagles lost eight seniors from a squad that won 19 matches last season, Saunders said. Hampton is the only returning starter.
“Bur I believe we’ll surprise some people,” Saunders said. “This is a great group of girls. They are fun. They work so well together. Most of them are coming off a very successful junior varsity season. They’re ready to step up and compete.”
Today’s opener is a tripleheader starting at 5 p.m. in the gym at the 9/10 Campus.
“We should have a great atmosphere playing Carl Junction,” Saunders said. “They (the Bulldogs) always seem to bring a lot of fans. I hope it will be fun and a lot of excitement. It’s a good opener.
“I have a lot of respect for Sarah Wall (Carl Junction coach),” Saunders said, “She’s a mentor in this field.
“We played Carl Junction this summer,” Saunders said. “It went to three games. It was pretty much a nail-biter.”
Saunders is assisted by Amber Travis, Danielle Falor and Jeni Vieselmeyer.
Saunders said the Eagles will go to the same tournaments they did in 2011 — Springfield Hillcrest, Carl Junction and Neosho.
High School Sports
Veteran Eagles open volleyball season tonight
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