Team: Pender
Mascot: Pendragons
Colors: Red and White
Class: D-1
Head Coach: Kayla Brewer (1st season)
2016 record: 10-20
Returning Starters: 1
Overview:
The Pender volleyball team will have a new face leading the the way this season. First year head coach Kayla Brewer says she's excited for the opportunity. "Good so far. I'm really excited to be in this, and the girls have been really supportive of me and letting me get my feet wet. And now we're kind of getting in the groove of things."
Brewer previously served as an assistant for the Pendragons, who open the 2017 season as part of the Northeast Nebraska Tournament in Pender and Wisner on August 31st.
Pender will have plenty of shoes to fill when it opens up play this season. The Pendragons lost six seniors to graduation, five of which were starters. Brewer says finding the right players to fill roles has been easier than expected. "It's actually been pretty easy. A lot of our Juniors have really stepped up to the task, and have really shown a lot of improvement just over the summer even. So they've done a really good job filling those spots so far."
Outside hitter Sadie Lamplot (5'6 Outside Jr.) is the only returning starter for the Pendragons.
Other projected starters include Kaylin Sandall (5'2 Libero Jr.), Tymaree Krusemark (5'3 Setter Sr.), Brittni Beckman (5 '8 Middle Jr.), Rylee Lehmkuhl (5'6 Outside Jr.), Jenna Kubik (5'6 Right side Sr.), and Sarah Krueger 5'6 Middle Jr.).
Key personnel losses would be Hallie Ballinger in the middle and Kamryn Anderson at setter.
There figures to be a lot of new faces and players in the starting lineup for the Pendragons, but I think this team has a lot of potential.
Brewer thinks her team can be good. "Even though we lost a lot of seniors last year, I think we will still have a very successful team. Our girls have been working extremely hard in practice and our seniors/juniors have really stepped up and shown some great improvement. I can't wait to see what these girls can do at our first game."
I think there could be some growing pains for Pender early on, but I think the Pendragons' eagerness, passion desire, drive, will, and determination will allow Pender to grow and improve as the year goes on.
I also look for the Pendragons to have a good attitude throughout the year, and I think they will work hard. That should allow Pender to find success this season.
Season Outlook:
After a 2016 season in which they won just 10 games and after losing all but one starter, you could say the path ahead doesn't look easy for Pender. But Brewer says they hope to surprise some people this year. "I think a lot of people are going to be pretty surprised by them. We don't have much height, but we have a lot of speed. So we've been working on our coverage and making sure we're able to run after the ball as fast as we can, and cover our blockers even though we don't have very many tall blockers."
The schedule does appear to be pretty difficult for the Pendragons, but that's not to say Pender can't surprise some people this season.
I thought the Pendragons underachieved last year to be honest, and if anything, I think Pender will overachieve and/or exceed expectations this season.
Wins could very well be hard to come by for the Pendragons this season, but I look for Pender to be very competitive and give teams their best shot.
I think the Pendragons will be a team that grows and improves throughout the season. I look for Pender to play some of their best Volleyball at the end of the season.
I think you will continually see the Pendragons get better throughout the course of the season.
I think it's definitely a case where Pender has to be very effective in all areas of the game, and has to limit self mistakes.
The last thing the Pendragons can afford to do is give their opponents free points.
There's really not a lot of room for error for Pender if you ask me. That's why the Pendragons have to do everything they can to limit self mistakes and make their opponents work hard for their points.
Pender should be able to match up well against smaller teams, but teams with height like North Bend Central could cause the Pendragons issues, in my opinion.
I honestly don't know what to expect from Pender, but I think they'll find their way and win some matches. It should be a fun and interesting season for the Pendragon.
I'm sure these girls are ready to get the year started.
2017 Pender Pendragons Volleyball Schedule:
08/31-09/02 (To Be Determined) NE Classic (2/3-Day Tournament) Pender/Wisner-Pilger
09/05/17 North Bend Central Triangular (host: Pender)
09/05/17 Emerson-Hubbard Triangular (host: Pender)
09/12/17 Logan View
09/14/17 Wakefield
09/19/17 Wisner-Pilger Triangular (host: Stanton)
09/19/17 Stanton Triangular (host: Stanton)
09/25/17 @ Scribner-Snyder
09/26/17 Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
09/28/17 Neligh-Oakdale Triangular (host: Neligh-Oakdale)
09/28/17 Emerson-Hubbard Triangular (host: Neligh-Oakdale)
09/30-09/30 (To Be Determined) Clarkson Tourney (4-Team 1-Day Tournament) Clarkson/Leigh
10/03/17 @ Tekamah-Herman
10/05/17 @ Oakland-Craig
10/10/17 Homer
10/12-10/14 (To Be Determined) East Husker Conference Tournament (2/3-Day Tournament) Logan View/Logan View High School
10/17/17 BRLD
10/23/17 @ Clarkson/Leigh
10/24/17 West Point-Beemer Triangular (host: Pender)
10/24/17 Howells-Dodge Triangular (host: Pender)
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