Team: Pender
Mascot: Pendragons
Colors: Red and White
Class: D-1
Head Coach: Melissa Hansen (2nd season)
2015 record: 9-22
Returning Starters: 5
Overview:
The Pender Pendragons are hoping to be better in 2016 than they were in 2015.
Pender returns a good amount of talent in returning starters Hallie Ballinger (Middle, Senior, 6'), Cecilee Jacobsen (Middle, Senior, 6'), Haylie Roberts (Outside, Senior, 5'8"), Kamryn Anderson (Setter, Senior, 5"5), and Rylee Lehmkuhl, (Libero Sophomore, 5"5').
Here is the Pendragons' projected starting lineup:
Hallie Ballinger
Cecilee Jacobsen
Kamryn Anderson
Sadie Lamplot
Haylie Roberts
Cierra Kirkland/ Brittni Beckman (Not sure on this spot yet)
Pender will have to replace Justice Sorenson and Sarah Schopke, who graduated last year.
The Pendragons don't have any freshmen on the team so don't expect any newcomers to make an impact on Pender's season this year.
That's good and bad news for the Pendragons, in my opinion. It's okay this year that Pender has to rely on veteran players to step up and get the job done, but it's not good for things a couple years down the road.
Head Coach Melissa Hansen says this season has the potential to be really good. "If we play as a team and work together, we could have a great season."
Teams are generally better in a coach's second season than first. Hansen says her and her team are on the same page. "I know my roles as a head coach and the girls know what I expect."
I think the Pendragons will be better this year than they were last year.
Pender struggled the first half of last year, but played better volleyball the second part of the season. I think there are many positives the Pendragons can take from that stretch of volleyball and apply it to this season.
I don't see why Pender can't win 15-20 matches if everything falls into place. The Pendragons are certainly a capable team with some talented players.
I look for Pender to be very competitive this year, and push most if not all of the teams on their schedule.
I think the Pendragons have the potential to double their win total from last year, at the very least.
Season Outlook:
The schedule has its challenges for Pender, but there appears to be a lot of winnable matches on the schedule for the Pendragons as well.
Pender's toughest matches appear to be against North Bend Central, Stanton, Wisner-Pilger, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Tekamah-Herman, BRLD, Oakland-Craig, West Point-Beemer, and Howells-Dodge.
The Pendragons definitely have their work cut out for them in some matches, but there are other matches that don't appear to be as difficult.
With that said, Pender has to play with the same effort and intensity level against all teams.
The Pendragons have GACC in their sub district, and should Pender play the Bluejays, they're going to need all the firepower they can get.
Other teams in Sub District D1-4 include Emerson-Hubbard, Clarkson/Leigh, and Walthill.
Hansen says her team expects to be better than they have been before.
She also says it was a good offseason. "Went well. Girls worked hard in the offseason. Won a team camp!"
I look for Pender's offseason work to pay off in the long run this year, but the Pendragons will be challenged right off the bat against the likes of GACC and Wisner-Pilger, should they play them in the Northeast Nebraska Classic, and North Bend Central.
If Pender can beat the teams they're supposed to, win the close matches, and spring a couple of upsets, it could end up being a fine season for the Pendragons.
A lot hinges on those close matches though, in my opinion. Win those close matches and it's probably a pretty successful season. Lose them and it could be a somewhat frustrating season.
We will see what Pender can do this year.
2016 Pender Pendragons Volleyball Schedule:
09/01-09/03 (To Be Determined) Northeast Nebraska Classic (2/3-Day Tournament) Wisner/Pender
09/06/16 North Bend Central Triangular (host: North Bend Central)
09/06/16 Emerson-Hubbard Triangular (host: North Bend Central)
09/13/16 @ Logan View
09/15/16 @ Wakefield
09/15/16 @ Wakefield
09/20/16 Stanton Triangular (host: Wisner-Pilger)
09/20/16 Wisner-Pilger Triangular (host: Wisner-Pilger)
09/26/16 Scribner-Snyder
09/27/16 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
09/29/16 Emerson-Hubbard Triangular (host: Emerson-Hubbard)
09/29/16 Neligh-Oakdale Triangular (host: Emerson-Hubbard)
10/01-10/01 (To Be Determined) Clarkson/Leigh Tournament (1-Day Tournament, >4 Teams) Clarkson
10/04/16 Tekamah-Herman
10/11/16 @ Homer
10/13-10/15 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference (2/3-Day Tournament) Wisner
10/18/16 @ BRLD
10/20/16 Oakland-Craig
10/24/16 Clarkson/Leigh
10/25/16 West Point-Beemer Triangular (host: West Point-Beemer)
10/25/16 Howells-Dodge Triangular (host: West Point-Beemer
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