By ROB HAMILTON
First-year Cardington head volleyball coach Kendra Mosher is hoping her team can improve on its 6-17 record of last year and be at least a .500 team.
While she’ll have to go without the services of two all-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference graduates, the team does bring back a host of returnees.
Senior outside hitter Sam Brininger was an honorable mention pick by the league last year. Also returning are junior outside hitter Gracie Rees and a lot of sophomores in setter/hitter Jordan Deskins, middle hitter Olivia Jones, libero Rylie Partlow and middle hitter MaKenna McClure.
The team graduated Khyla Jones (first-team MOAC) and Esther Elliot (second-team MOAC), but Mosher has some newcomers ready to fill in at the varsity level. She is hoping for junior defensive specialist Markayla Sites, senior middle hitter Hayden Hursey, senior right-side hitter Kelsey Barker and sophomore setter Marissa Hall to make contributions this year.
“This season, we are looking to greatly improve on last year’s losing record by finishing at the .500 mark,” said Mosher. “We will have to greatly rely on the few upperclassmen and younger talent to take leadership roles and aid in the team having a successful season.”
If the Pirates can accomplish this, Mosher hopes they will be in the mix of a strong Blue Division this season.
“We hope to finish in the top four in the conference this year,” she said. “The teams in our conference to look out for are mainly Highland and Northmor. They have been in the top for the past couple years and we hope to be able to compete well with them and the other teams in our conference to make our goals realistic.”
Rob Hamilton can be reached at 419-946-3010, ext. 1807. Connect with him on Twitter at @SportsMCS
