The Mount Gilead volleyball struggled last season going 2-17 and 0-10 in KMAC play, losing the final 12 games of the season. The Indians graduated a core group of seniors last year and look to rebuild with a young team that is ambitious and coachable. While they have started this season at 0-7, the Indians look to improve and play tough during this rebuild.
"Last year we graduated six seniors who played key roles on the team, so this year is a rebuilding year with a young team," said Coach Megan Oder, who is in her fourth season at Mount Gilead and third as the varsity head coach. "We only have three returning varsity lettermen from last season, so we have a team full of players who are excited to learn and improve."
Oder has been coaching at the freshman and varsity level for six seasons. She was the freshman coach at Mount Gilead in 2019 before becoming the varsity coach, and before that in 2017 and 2018, she was the Highland High School freshman coach.
"I get my coaching philosophy from all of the coaches who I have ever coached with or played under," Oder said. "I feel like I incorporate bits and pieces of all of their philosophies into my philosophy. I have played for, coached with, and coached under many different coaches who have many different philosophies, and I have been able to learn something from every single one."
Two of the top players on the team graduated last season in second team All-KMAC Grace Mowery and honorable mention Candace Millisor. Oder said she is counting on her trio of seniors to take charge as leaders this year, which includes captains Darbie Dillon, Emma McDonald and Emily Mattix. The captains chose the team slogan "If you don't believe, you don't belong."
"Our senior captains selected this quote because they felt that to achieve team unity, everyone involved in our program needs to believe in the team and buy into the vision we have for our program," Oder said.
She added: "They are the captains of our program, and they are eager to use their knowledge and leadership skills to help the underclassmen grow. They have all been a part of the high school volleyball program since they were freshmen, so they have many experiences that will be beneficial to the underclassmen."
Oder said the team also has three returning lettermen including junior Olivia Long and sophomores Cassady Irwin and Lindsey Ayers. She said they are using their leadership, skills and knowledge of playing at the varsity level to help the other new teammates along the way. Two newcomers include junior Trinity Schrote and Abby Leonhard, who Oder said have shown improvement and the willingness to learn.
"This season, I expect my players to be consistent and competitive, while also being enthusiastic about the game of volleyball," said Oder. "I want them to focus on what we can do to better ourselves as volleyball players, which will in turn better our team, and the program as a whole. We are creating a culture that will help build a strong foundation for our future. Overall, I am very proud of my players and our program (we have full freshmen, JV, and varsity rosters that are comprised of 28 total players and we have both a seventh-grade and an eighth-grade team at our middle school) for all of the hard work they put in during the off-season and for how willing they have been to learn and adapt."
Oder said. "We will make gains all season and our wins will come. These girls play hard and practice hard and they will get their wins."
