Young Bulldog Team Has Big Shoes To Fill

DAYTON -- If Dayton wants to repeat as league champions this year, they will have to do it with a var- sity squad half-composed of sophomores and freshmen.

Fortunately for Dayton, all three projected sophomore starters saw significant time as freshmen on last years' title team. Two seniors and one junior return as well. The graduation loss of three impact players from 2011, how- ever, leaves 10th year Bulldog coach Shannon Turner with some holes to fill.

Libero/Hitter Nicole Lambert, setter Darci Hall and middle blocker Shelby Smith are all gone from that team. But Turner believes seniors McKayla Bickelhaupt, Jes- sica Tate, junior Courtney Mings and sophomores Lexi Ramirez, Chelsea Wooldridge and Sarah Phillips, along with junior Bailey John and freshman Madison Mings off the bench, have the ability to earn the Bulldogs a second- straight title.

Bickelhaupt, a varsity player since her freshman year, and two-time all-league selection, anchors the squad. Turner calls Bickelhaupt "ex- tremely competitive, wants to win" and a "very coachable and athletic" player.

"(She) has so much power," Turner said. "When she gets on top of the ball, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end."

Turner noted Bickelhaupt had the most kills last year and possibly the most digs.

Senior Jessica Tate earned her varsity spot as a sopho- more. In her final year she will help the Bulldogs from the right side where she can pound the ball or act as a help setter.

"With her height, you think setter, but she can really put it down in the back of the court," Turner said. "She also excels at picking up tips on the back line."

Turner said Tate is the team's most inspirational player.

Junior Courtney Mings is a question mark, as she is coming off a blown knee suffered last season in basketball. This will be her first sports partici- pation since the injury.

The 5-foot-7-inch middle blocker wears a brace now, but "you don't even notice it in her movements," says Turner.

"Last year we didn't have the height. We put her at mid- dle blocker alongside Shelby," said Turner. "She really im- proved toward the end of the season, got her timing down. She didn't want the position, but she got good at it, and now she likes it."

Turner's Bulldogs run a 6-2 offense, meaning she will have two setters on the court at the same time. Both setters this year will be sophomores.

"In the past, our strength has not been setting," Turner said. "I'm confident in our setters this year. We are much improved."

Wooldridge is the team's first setter. She moved up from junior varsity to varsity mid- season last year and into the starting lineup.

"(Wooldridge) had played club ball for a couple years, which helped a lot, and we were weak at setter," Turner said.

The Dayton sophomore by way of Starbuck didn't know any of her teammates until she showed up to play last year. She attended Starbuck's two-room school through the eighth grade where her stepmother, former Dayton star, and current assistant coach Katie (Rubenser) Wooldridge teaches.

The second setter is Lexi Ramirez, a player Turner calls "just athletic."

"Her fundamentals are really sound," Turner said. "She can play anywhere. She's got good hands and she's quick. I'm really confident in our set- ting this year."

Rounding out the starting three sophomores is Sarah Phillips, the team's libero.

"She's small, low to the ground and very quick," notes Turner. "Passing will be one of our strengths. I'm confident enough in our team passing ability that we can play without a libero and Sarah could set."

Junior Bailey John will join the Bulldogs on varsity in the middle blocker position this fall. She and fellow new- comer, freshman Mings, are the tallest of the team at 5-foot 9-inches.

"Bailey's a great server," Turner said. "Right now, she's working on her blocking and hitting."

Madison, Courtney Mings' younger sibling, will fill the middle blocker position as well.

Turner says she'll start with an eight-girl squad, but could bring a couple more players up as the season progresses. There is some younger height on the team that, according to Turner, "is just not ready for varsity yet."

Turner believes her team's height disadvantage will re- quire them to play superior defense to win.

"We have to pass better than our opponents. We have to communicate better," said Turner. "I attribute our success last year to a lot of hard work of the girls on defense and playing as a team."

Turner thinks DeSales, Waitsburg-Prescott and As- otin will be the Bulldogs' toughest foes in league. As always she sees her Bulldog squad as one of the top three in league.

"I think we'll be tough to beat," said Turner. "But it always takes everyone a few weeks to hit their stride."

Dayton Volleyball

McKayla Bickelhaupt

Jessica Tate

Courtney Mings

Bailey John

Chelsea Wooldridge

Lexi Ramirez

Sarah Phillips

Taylor Frame

Keelin Hovrud

Katie Thompson

Samantha Davis

Samii Bledsoe

Amanda Bren

Kellie Moore

Madison Mings

Bryeana Myrick

Anissa Holmberg

Angela Mascall

Alexus Snyder

Marianna DeNully

Kendall Field

Jillian Cleveland

McKenzie Delp