Breedlove Welcomes Depth

Paul Nielsen
September 1, 2011

Sophomores Pushing for Playing Time

ROGERS — Practice has been a whole lot better for the Rogers High volleyball team.

Last year, the Lady Mounties started August drills with only 11 players, and that made just conducting practice a chore.

Rogers added two players before the season started, but the Lady Mounties’ lack of depth was a problem. Not this year.

Rogers has 22 players in uniform, and there is competition for starting roles as the Lady Mounties head into 7A-West Conference matches.

Lady Mounties coach Jeana Breedlove said the competition for playing time will make her team more competitive.

“We have a lot of girls out compared to last year,” Breedlove said. “This year my excitement comes from the fact that we have girls pushing girls to get better. We are three deep in every position. We have sophomores that are pushing upperclassmen to be better.

“Last year, running practice was a challenge. It’s hard to do anything with 11. Last year was a challenge all the way around. It was the lowest numbers we have had since I have been here.”

Seniors Ashley Ferguson, Allie Krabbenhoft and Mikalah Booher are the Lady Mounties top returnees. Ferguson will be the main setter, while Krabbenhoft and Booher have moved from inside positions to the outside.

“I’m expecting the seniors to be the leaders,” Breedlove said.

Breedlove said the Lady Mounties 16-member sophomore class is deep and talented. Katie Pedersen, Kaitlin Krantz and Victoria Fritz are expected to play key roles this season.

“We have sophomores even gaining an upper hand for starting positions,” Breedlove said. “It’s exciting having younger girls pushing the older girls. We have a very talented group of sophomore girls. That bodes well for the future of the program.”

The incoming sophomore class and the upperclassmen spent four days together at a volleyball camp at Missouri State over the summer. Breedlove said she saw a different sense of team chemistry after the camp.

“It was fantastic bonding,” Breedlove said. “It’s like being at the state tournament. Everything we did, we did together.”