With two sophomores offering the most returning varsity experience to the Wheaton volleyball team, the Lady Bulldogs are finding their footing as a squad this season.
Cheyanne Gudgell, in her first year as head coach in Wheaton, said the team’s goals this season are simple.
“Our first team goal we have this year is respecting our teammates,” she said. “We have a lot of young players this year, so this year is a learning year for most of us. I truly believe that if we can build respect for each other, it will help us in the long run.
“Another goal this year is to become better passers. Since we are so young and inexperienced we do not have anyone that can put the ball away consistently so we are going to have to learn how to dig the ball to keep it off the ground.”
Returning varsity players are small in numbers, with only sophomores Naveah Crandall and Jayci Park playing significant time previously.
“Nevaeh is our go-to for attacking,” Gudgell said. “If our pass is not a perfect pass, our setter knows that she can put it up anywhere and Nevaeh will find a way to attack it. Nevaeh is also one of our better diggers this year.
“Jayci is bringing her joyful leadership skills and her passing skills this year. Everyone looks up to her and sees how she is going to react before they react to any situation. Jayci is also the player that is always in our serve receive pattern and covers half of the back row when defending a hitter.”
Newcomers to the varsity squad include a trio of seniors in Hailey VanDegrift, Satie Krattley and Caterina Yang.
“Hailey contributes to the team with her back row defense and her serves,” Gudgell said. I know I can always count on Hailey to serve the ball over the net. Satie contributes to the team by helping us double block when needed and having a positive attitude toward her teammates.
“Caterina contributes to the team with her digging. Cat is one of the players that can come out of nowhere to make a dig.”
Rounding out the roster are junior Bailee Gorman, sophomore LeAnna Gomez and freshmen Meyah Peckham and Avery Schlessman.
“Bailee contributes to the team by being able to make smart choices with her hits, tips, and roll shots. LeAnna contributes to the team with her blocking. She can jump and move along the net quickly.
“Meyah contributes to the team with her speed. She is a first-year setter and her speed helps her be able to get the majority of our passes. Avery contributes to the team by helping us with defense. She is really good at moving around the back row and digging a lot of attacks.”
Facing a lack of experience, Gudgell said one quality the Lady Bulldogs are proficient in is coachability.
“Since we are mostly so young, the girls are still pretty coachable and willing to try new things to get out of bad habits,” she said. “I also feel like our girls are good communicators this year. Our captains are good at helping on and off the floor.”
Serving and receiving is where Wheaton hope to make the longest strides this season, as the team is still learning who covers where.
“We are still learning what area each girl is needing to cover and how far the girls can cover proficiently,” Gudgell said. “We are learning how to read the serve earlier to be able to get their body in the correct position to make a better pass.”
Wheaton’s season began in late August, and the Lady Bulldogs are winless in their first four contests. As the season presses on, Gudgell said there is one game on the schedule she hopes fans attend in numbers.
“If I could fill the stands up on any game, it would be our game against Exeter [on Oct. 6],” she said. “That night is our senior night. I think having the gym full on that night would help celebrate our seniors, as some of our seniors have played for us every year since seventh grade.
“Since we are so young this year, our schedule will be challenging for us, but it will help us learn how to push through, not quit and prepare for next year.”
Gudgell said having no players that stand out skill-wise can be a positive for the team, as the Lady Bulldogs must rely on each other more.
“Our team has really good teamwork,” she said. “None of our players are outstanding players this year. Yes, we have a few that we count on more often, but none of them are way above anyone else. Since none of them are ‘outstanding’ with their volleyball skills, we have to count on our teammates more often. The girls know they have to work together more than other teams might need to.”
Wheaton played Northeast Vernon County at home on Tuesday after presstime. The Lady Bulldogs are home again on Thursday, hosting Thomas Jefferson Independent.
