Cassville Volleyball Coach Paige Huddleston said many teams may have written off the Lady Wildcats this year due to last year’s 2-27 record — that was a mistake.
Returning all but one senior from the 2022 squad, the Lady Wildcats turned things around in a big way, finishing the year at 17-15-3 and breaking four school records in the process.
“This team set extremely high goals for themselves this season,” Huddleston said. “Some we met, others we didn’t, but not with a lack of trying or heart. Many girls met their individual goals this season, and some met goals they hadn’t originally set for themselves but developed as the season progressed. I am incredibly proud of all this team accomplished throughout the season, both individually and as a whole.”
Three players etched their names into Cassville’s history books in four categories. All-State selection Emerson Grossman broke a pair of records, the season ace record with 72 and the career ace percentage record with a mark of 17.3 percent. Fellow senior Pazlee Burbridge also broke two, matching Grossman’s 17.3 percent career ace record and breaking the season block record with 84.
The final player who broke a school record this year has plenty of career to go. Freshman Audrey Kennedy set the mark for season serve percentage, finishing at 97.7 percent.
“We met our goal of having a winning season,” Huddleston said. “We met multiple individual goals that these ladies set for themselves, which included breaking some school records. We came up a little short in districts, which was one big goal we set as a team. However, I think this team exceeded all expectations this season. Most folks had us written off because of our record last year and only graduating 1 senior, but this team found its way and showed everyone they were not going out without leaving their mark.”
Huddleston said that fight was a marquee characteristic of this year’s squad, allowing Cassville to stay in games longer than it had before.
“Last season, we were always close but couldn’t finish, and this year, these young ladies learned how to fight through the tough parts of the game and finish,” she said.
A match indicative of that was a 5-set road win over Hillcrest (25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 14-25, 15-13) on Sept. 7.
“Going into an opponent’s home court, especially one that is substantially bigger than us as a district, and beating them in a back and forth 5-set battle is something you don’t forget,” Huddleston said. “That night will be burned in my memory bank for a long, long time. The way this team overcame obstacles and fought to the end will always be a moment I cherish with this group of young ladies.”
The Lady Wildcats bid farewell to eight seniors this season, ones who left a lasting mark on the program.
“This group of seniors meant a lot to me and this team,” Huddleston said. “They each brought their own unique piece to the puzzle this season. They played with urgency because they knew their clock was running out and they truly left it all on the floor.”
With that class graduating, Cassville has 17 on the squad that can return in 2024.
“We have a very talented group of young ladies,” Huddleston said. “I think they will bring strength to our defense next season and they come with a warrior mentality that we have been lacking as a team.”
As the program moves forward, Huddleston hopes those returners are ready and willing to work.
“As a coach I always have a goal of a winning season,” she said. “Sometimes we reach that, and other times we don’t. I also want to see these young girls step into whatever role we give them and chase greatness at the varsity level. We are going to be young with little varsity experience, but my goal is for them to fight with everything they can because I think next year’s team will surprise a lot of people.
“I am incredibly proud of the team and what we accomplished this season together. I am equally excited to see where next year’s team will grow and what they will do at the varsity level.”
