Coming off a year in which the Lady Bulldogs finished 2-19 and were 0-12 in KMAC matches, winning only six of 64 sets, the East Knox volleyball team has a new coach and the rally call to “be aggressive.”
Last season’s highlights were limited to five days in September in which the Lady Bulldogs defeated both Granville Christian and Mount Gilead. The 2021 squad was led by graduating seniors Anjel Montgomery with 65 kills and Brenna Remy with 59 kills, but returning for this season are Isabelle Schlaegel (47 kills), Shanda Melick (42 kills, 150 digs and 23 service aces) and Kiara Knepp (198 digs).
New volleyball coach Kelsey Walters said, “The East Knox Volleyball program did not have a successful year last year,” but, she said, “a positive to build on is to continue East Knox’s ability to always putting 100% effort and hustle into whatever the girls come across.”
Some of that effort is in the fabric of the team’s motto: Be aggressive.
“Our focus is to always be aggressive when hitting, serving and passing, and that ball control is key.”
Speed is also key as Walters has installed a system in which the team runs a faster offense as it is considered a smaller team.
This is Walters’ first year at EK and first year as head coach of a varsity sport after coaching volleyball at the JV level for the past four years. Walters’ coaching philosophy came from a few different people – past and present.
"My philosophy comes from the coaches I had in the past because I liked how they coached and ran practices so I made mental notes for when I would start to coach," Walters said.
“Since this is my first year coaching at East Knox, I am counting on the returning varsity to step up this year. I believe every single girl in the program has improved from last year because I have watched them grow and learn from the beginning of the summer. The difference is incredible,” Walters said.
What is the first-year coach’s expectation for 2022?
“My expectation for the program this year is to show the KMAC a new East Knox volleyball program,” she said.
East Knox lost to Fredericktown in its season opener and played Northmor on Tuesday. It takes on Centerburg on Sept. 1.
