Lady Eagles Set To Begin 2019 Campaign

Sullivan’s girls volleyball team got the 2019 season started on Tuesday at Blair Oaks and set their sights on a fourth straight district championship.

The Lady Eagles have six seniors on this season’s roster, including Adrian Bell, Kya Harbour, Kierstin Jones, Riley Lock, Mallory Shetley and Hailey Volkmann.

Juniors Saige Carey and Parker Williamson, sophomore Rylee Denbow and freshmen Emma Brune and Maci Nolie complete the roster.

Bell, Lock, Shetley, Denbow and Brune will line up in the front row. Bell and Denbow are listed as opposite hitters. Lock, Shetley and Brune rotate as outside hitters.

Harbour and Volkmann will be in the back row as middle blockers. Jones and Williamson are defensive specialists, Carey is a libero and Nolie a setter.

Head coach Sarah Rochleau said the team had a great summer with high levels of participation at camps and open gyms.

“We had three teams compete at the Licking Summer Camp in Rolla,” Rochleau said. “Twenty-eight high school athletes attended team camp and nearly 90 third through eighth graders take part in our youth camp.”

Rochleau said the team’s six seniors this season will provide valuable experience, but she is excited about the new talent rounding out the roster.

Sullivan hosted a Jamboree on Tuesday and she thought it went well. The team won all four sets agains St. Clair and Owensville.

“Jamborees are just a great opportunity to see what is working and what still needs some work,” Rochleau said. “Practices have been going good, our varsity/junior varsity scrimmages have been very competitive and the girls are really pushing each other to improve each day.”

The team will focus on getting back to the district title game.

“Our district looks a little different this year, with the addition of Pacific and Borgia,” Rochleau said. “We know that we will have our work cut out for us, but we truly believe that our team has what it takes to take our game to the next level and be in the running.”

Sullivan hosts Whitfield in their home opener on Monday, September 9.