Lady Bulldogs Want To Top 2010

DAYTON - The Dayton girls' volleyball team has set the bar high this season after winning the title of district champions in the league and competing at the state level last year.

Coach Shannon Turner said the team is excited to start competing this year with some new blood in the lineup. The team wants to best its 9-3 win-loss record from last year.

Thi s year, the team has 10 players on varsity, and six players are ret urners, Turner said. The team is most excited to play Waitsburg-Prescott and DeSales, Turner said.

" They are our mos t fun matches to play with the biggest crowds and the best energy," she said. The teams to beat will be Asotin and Liberty Christian, she said.

Turner has plenty of help this year from assistant coaches Lisa Benzel and Katie Wooldridge. On Monday at practice, the girls were focusing hard on ramping up their skills for the first game at Dayton High School on Sept. 7.

Nicole Lambert has been the team's libero for the past 2 years, but will probably play around the court this year. Turner said the team needs to use Lambert's hitting strength.

Shelby Smith is the starting middle blocker and quick on the net, she said.

McKayla Bickelhaupt is everywhere - she plays around the court and hits the ball very hard. Bickelhaupt can also block and plays very good defense, Turner added.

Darci Hall was one of the team's setters last year and was on the all state team. Turner is looking for Hall to play with more confidence and leadership in her role.

This season will be different from the last because Turner has a big group of freshman players coming in.

"They are athletic and competitive," Turner said. "We were young as a varsity team last year, but we advanced and learned quickly. We will still have a lot of young players, but have six solid returning varsity players with a lot of enthusiasm and state experience. We're ready to compete and motivate the younger girls to play at our level."