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FRONTENAC —
The Frontenac volleyball team went 30-6 last year. For many teams, just matching that sort of record would be enough heading into the season. But not for the Raiders.
Raiders head coach Cassie Buche said that she hopes her experienced team will top that record and build on the team achievements.
“I expect great things,” Buche said. “This week in practice was great. We had two-a-days, and the girls had great attitudes. They are working really hard in practice. We have a great senior class that has really done a great job in reaching out to the younger kids to get what they can out of them.”
Last year’s team had five all-CNC selections. Only one of those five graduated, leaving the Raiders with a class of talented, accomplished players.
Lindsey Gorham, now a senior, was a unanimous first team selection last year as a setter, and has started since she was a freshman.
The middle will also be a strength for Frontenac, with senior Paige Badart, an all-CNC honorable mention last year, and Ryleigh McCartney, a junior who earned first team all-CNC last season.
“Ryleigh and Page are going to be a big part of our offense,” Buche said. “Ryleigh is to the point where she can step onto the floor and really open people’s eyes. She’s expanded her game. She’s the most improved, even though she started as a freshman.”
Senior Nayna Fields rounds out the returning 2011 all-CNC selections; she was named to the second team. She’ll be along the back row with fellow senior Jennifer Long.
Buche spoke highly of senior Libby Warrick, who will return at the outside position. McKayla Edwards completes the seniors on the team as a setter and a fill-in on the back row.
The team also has a number of juniors looking to contribute on the weakside, including Bailey Flora, Alexis Robinson and Natalie Coomes. Freshman Lauren Hipfl will likely fill the last outside position.
Buche said this could be a great year, record- and achievement-wise. It all depends on how the experienced, strong senior class works with the young but talented underclassmen.
“I’m extremely proud of my senior class and how they’ve stepped up into leadership. They’ve pushed the younger generation,” Buche said. “They truly want everyone to succeed, and there’s no individuality in them. I’m blessed to have kids like that on the team. It makes me want to do what I do.”
The Frontenac volleyball team went 30-6 last year. For many teams, just matching that sort of record would be enough heading into the season. But not for the Raiders.
Raiders head coach Cassie Buche said that she hopes her experienced team will top that record and build on the team achievements.
“I expect great things,” Buche said. “This week in practice was great. We had two-a-days, and the girls had great attitudes. They are working really hard in practice. We have a great senior class that has really done a great job in reaching out to the younger kids to get what they can out of them.”
Last year’s team had five all-CNC selections. Only one of those five graduated, leaving the Raiders with a class of talented, accomplished players.
Lindsey Gorham, now a senior, was a unanimous first team selection last year as a setter, and has started since she was a freshman.
The middle will also be a strength for Frontenac, with senior Paige Badart, an all-CNC honorable mention last year, and Ryleigh McCartney, a junior who earned first team all-CNC last season.
“Ryleigh and Page are going to be a big part of our offense,” Buche said. “Ryleigh is to the point where she can step onto the floor and really open people’s eyes. She’s expanded her game. She’s the most improved, even though she started as a freshman.”
Senior Nayna Fields rounds out the returning 2011 all-CNC selections; she was named to the second team. She’ll be along the back row with fellow senior Jennifer Long.
Buche spoke highly of senior Libby Warrick, who will return at the outside position. McKayla Edwards completes the seniors on the team as a setter and a fill-in on the back row.
The team also has a number of juniors looking to contribute on the weakside, including Bailey Flora, Alexis Robinson and Natalie Coomes. Freshman Lauren Hipfl will likely fill the last outside position.
Buche said this could be a great year, record- and achievement-wise. It all depends on how the experienced, strong senior class works with the young but talented underclassmen.
“I’m extremely proud of my senior class and how they’ve stepped up into leadership. They’ve pushed the younger generation,” Buche said. “They truly want everyone to succeed, and there’s no individuality in them. I’m blessed to have kids like that on the team. It makes me want to do what I do.”
Cross Country
Frontenac cross country coach Caryn Murray is happy not only with the strong crop of runners returning this year, but also with the sheer numbers on the team. About 35 runners have come out, meaning she’ll have full varsity and JV teams for both boys and girls cross country.
The girls side is stacked with five state-qualifying returners: senior Amanda Cicero, junior Allie Moody, senior Kinsella Brunetti, sophomore Tabor Spurling and sophomore Abby Welcher.
Cicero is coming off an ACL injury suffered during basketball season, and will likely be cleared for competition in early September.
Rounding out the team, sophomore Taylor Jameson was a state qualifier in the two-mile in track as a freshman, and will be competing on the team, alongside freshman runner Hanna Coleman.
The boys team will feature returning standout junior Chance Medlin. Murray also expects good things from the trio of seniors: Aaron Troglia, Austin Corder and Jacob Teats. Sophomores Louis Brunetti and Dillon Brookshire will also compete on the varsity level.
The last position will likely be determine by Friday’s intrasquad time trial, nominally the “Black and White Time Trial,” like the Black and White scrimmages.
The Raiders’ first meet will be at Labette County next Friday.
“We’re expecting to have a good season. There are a lot of returning athletes. Our first goal is to see how we compete at Labette, then go from there,” Murray said.
