Few teams are as young as the Wheaton volleyball squad.
With no seniors and only three juniors, the team of 20 is focused on long-term goals and development coming off a trying 3-21 season last year.
“This season is about development and laying the groundwork for future success,” said Cheyanne Gudgell, Wheaton volleyball coach. “While we may face some challenges, my expectations are focused on growth, learning, and building a strong team foundation.
“The key expectations I have for the team this year is: Every team member to make significant progress in the individual skill; the players to build strong bonds and learn to work effectively together on and off the court,; a consistent level of effort and a positive attitude from all players; develop a competitive spirit to help push themselves and each other to perform at their best; and to learn from every game and practice session. I want the player to be able to analyze their performance, understand their mistakes, and make the necessary adjustments.”
Returners for the Lady Bulldogs include junior middle hitter Naveah Crandall, junior middle hitter LeAnna Gomez, junior outside hitter Jayci Park and sohomore outside hitter Avery Schlessman.
“Nevaeh has been dealing with a shoulder injury over the summer but has been doing everything possible to be ready for the season,” Gudgell said. “Despite her injury, Nevaeh consistently showed up to the weight room and worked hard in practice. She led the team in kills and digs last season, and we believe she will be back to 100% by the start of the season. LeAnna brings a positive attitude and has the highest vertical on our team. By the end of last season, she had significantly improved her ability to read hitters and set her block correctly. LeAnna is expected to be a highly effective blocker against bigger hitters.
“Jayci has dedicated significant effort in the weight room and in practice this summer to become a stronger and more aggressive attacker. Additionally, she has focused on improving her defensive skills. Last season, Jayci ranked second on our team in both kills and digs. Avery has worked extremely hard this summer, hitting the weight room every day and spending extra time during practice to perfect her timing and become an effective outside hitter.”
Three more newcomers are expected to play major roles in the team, including two junior varsity players moving up the ranks.
“I believe our previous JV players, sophomores Kaylie Hang and Lily Walling, will significantly contribute to our varsity team this season,” Gudgell said. “Kaylie is agile and eager to try new things. She is willing to step out of her comfort zone to improve as a player overall. Lily is dedicated and highly coachable. She is agile and ready to step into any role as needed. Over the summer, she has worked hard to become a more powerful and confident player.
“I also have a freshman, Morgan Crandall, put in a lot of work this summer. We took her to the Rib City Tournament, and she played the majority of the time. I was truly impressed with their ability to compete with and against varsity players.”
With age posing a challenge, Gudgell said the Lady Bulldogs do not let any mental weaknesses show.
“One of our biggest strengths is our resilience,” she said. “The challenges we faced last year have instilled a sense of resilience in our team. They’ve learned to handle adversity and come back stronger, which will be crucial as we navigate through the season.
“Another one of our strengths is our long-term development. We have 20 players on our team and no seniors and only 3 juniors. Our team is very young. With a focus on long-term development, we’re not just thinking about this season but also about building a strong foundation for the future. The experiences and skills these players gain now will be valuable in the years to come.”
To overcome some of its obstacles, Gudgell said the most crucial development will be finding ways to execute consistently.
“While our team has a lot of potential, there are certainly areas where we need to focus our efforts to maximize our success this season,” she said. “Consistency is the foundation of successful volleyball. Given our young roster, it’s natural to experience fluctuations in performance. However, to compete at a high level, we need to ensure that our players can execute basic skills reliably under pressure.
“This includes ensuring that our serves are consistent and effective (not just hoping the ball goes over the net); the ability to deliver precise passes to our setter; clear and effective communication on the court; the understanding of proper defensive positioning, anticipating opponents’ moves and being in the right place at the right time to make plays; and building mental toughness. All that will help our team stay focused and composed during high-pressure situations.”
Wheaton is 1-1 as of Monday afternoon, defeating Sheldon and falling to Hurley last week. The Lady Bulldogs played at Blue Eye Monday, hosted Marionville Tuesday and play next on the road at Crane on Thursday.
