Fall Sports: Experience big for Lady Coyotes in 2015 season

Though the Potter-Dix volleyball team enters this season going from Class D1 to D2, not much else will look different to Lady Coyotes' fans.

After going 17-13 over the last campaign and winning the D1-12 subdistrict tournament, there is plenty of reason for optimism. Potter-Dix returns all of its starters and should prove very tough against its district opponents. By switching to Class D2-12, the Lady Coyotes' new rivals will include South Platte, Garden County, Banner County and Minatare.

"Hands down we're probably the best team in our subdistrict," said second-year head coach Sarah Dvorak. "For districts, we'll probably run into Crawford, which won districts against Leyton last year and went down to state. They've lost both their setters, but they have some great hitters coming back so I expect them to be very tough."

Among those returning to the starting lineup for Potter-Dix is senior Regyn Hicks. Hicks is a four-year starter at middle hitter who led the team in blocks (108), kills (227) and digs (412) in 2014.

Hicks will be joined in the middle by another strong presence in junior Alexus Rozelle. Returning outside hitters are Dawson Sharman and Audrey Juelfs. Anna McLaughlin, who transferred to Potter-Dix from Garden County after the 2014 volleyball season was over, will compete as an outside hitter. Rozelle was second on the team a season ago with 227 kills and also with 95 blocks. Sharman had 156 kills last year, while Juelfs had 127.

"It's exciting to know we have our starters returning" said Sharman. "We all know each other pretty well and I know we're going to get a strong effort from everybody."

To set up the hitters, junior Lanie Thies is back after topping the squad in set assists with 365. Ryley Hicks, who assisted on 243 points off the bench, has graduated. Adding to the Lady Coyotes' depth are sophomores Trinity Langley and Payge Hoffman and senior Sara Gingerich.

Defensively, Hicks led the way last year with 412 digs, followed by Rozelle with 327, Sharman with 311 and Juelfs with 253.

"We're pretty excited. We have to make it to state this year. As a senior that would be a really great way to go out," said Hicks. "We haven't played a lot together this year, but from what I've seen in conditioning, everybody is trying really hard."