Raiders to open season tonight

Frontenac volleyball opens its season tonight with a quadrangular against Pleasanton, Neodesha and Galena (a non-league match).

The Raiders opened 2011 by sweeping these opponents — Neodesha 2-0 (25-14, 25-21), Galena 2-1 (20-25, 25-9, 25-13) and Pleasanton 2-0 (25-7, 25-2). Frontenac won two of three matches in 2010, beating Pleasanton 2-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-15) and Neodesha 2-1 (25-18, 17-25, 25-17) but losing to Galena in straight sets (25-14, 25-20). Later that season, Frontenac beat Galena 2-0 (25-14, 25-18).

Seniors make up half of the Raiders 12-player roster: defensive specialist Nayna Fields, defensive specialist Jennifer Long, middle hitter Paige Badart, setter and right side Lindsey Gorham (team captain), setter and defensive specialist McKayla Edwards and outside hitter-right side Libby Warrick.

“I’m extremely proud of my senior class and how they’ve stepped up into leadership,” Frontenac head coach Cassie Buche told Andrew Nash for the Fall Sports Preview. “They’ve pushed the younger generation. 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.”

Five juniors — Ryleigh McCartney, Natalie Coomes, Bailey Flora, Andi Palumbo and Alexis Robinson — give Frontenac 11 of 12 upperclassmen on its roster with freshman Lauren Hipfl the lone underclassmen.

Four returning players made over 200 digs — McCartney 351, Long 254, Fields 251, Gorham 218 — and three had at least 100 kills — McCartney 215, Warrick 186 and Badart 147.

McCartney enjoyed a solid all-around season last year with 351 digs, 215 kills, 152 blocks, 28 aces and 25 assists. Gorham made 218 digs and 601 assists, plus 19 kills, 30 aces and 34 blocks.

Gorham, a four-year varsity contributor, has accumulated 1,761 assists and 700 digs her first three seasons. Frontenac made a Class 3A state tournament appearance her freshman season.

Pleasanton opened its season 3-2 in the Three Rivers League Tournament this past weekend in Arma.

Freshman middle Sydney Dent leads Pleasanton with 36 kills and senior middle Karesa Lewis has 34. Lewis has 26 digs, 23 blocks and 15 aces, proving herself the best all-around player on Pleasanton. Junior libero Autumn Secrest leads with 37 digs. Senior outside hitter-setter Lindsey Conn totaled 42 digs over five matches.

Pleasanton won matches against Crest 2-0 (25-23, 25-17), Chetopa 2-0 (25-17, 25-9) and Marmaton Valley 2-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-19) and lost to St. Paul 2-0 (26-28, 25-27) and Uniontown 2-0 (23-25, 18-25).

Neodesha opened its season Monday against Cherryvale and Galena also opens its season tonight.

In other volleyball matches tonight, St. Mary’s Colgan opens its season with a triangular against Southeast Kansas League foes Chanute and Fort Scott. Chanute qualified for the Class 4A state tournament last year and come in at No. 5 in the Kansas Volleyball Association preseason rankings. The host Fort Scott opened its season 1-2 in a quad with Pittsburg, Girard and Columbus.

Girard heads to Uniontown for a triangular with the host and Erie. Girard finished 2-1 in its season-opening quad. Uniontown finished third in the Three Rivers tournament Saturday, 4-1 overall. The Red Devils have not played.