St. James Academy shoots for Kansas volleyball 4-peat

The Thunder completed a 30-10 mark during the school's first season of varsity action and then made a deep run into the 4A state volleyball tournament before finishing as runner-up to Hayden in 2007. Dorsey and the Thunder prevailed over the Wildcats in the 4A finals in each of the next three seasons, running Dorsey's career state tournament record to 19-1.

As freshmen, sophomores and juniors, Zarda and the other five seniors on Dorsey's varsity roster produced a 129-6 record collectively and claimed three state titles along the way. St. James Academy has won at least 40 contests in each of the past four seasons.

"The kids here know we have high expectations of them," Dorsey said. "And they rise to the occasion. They're real smart volleyball players and they're good all-around players. They all do everything well, are hard working and they're tough."

Zarda, a two-time second-team all-state selection, is one of four starters returning for Dorsey in 2011. The 5-foot-6 senior has been credited with 166 digs so far this season.

Thunder setter Paige Brown returns as well after joining Zarda on the Kansas Volleyball Association's second-team all-state squad a year ago. The 5-7 senior has rounded up 105 digs on the year and has accumulated 320 assists and 21 kills.

Arianna Person is back on task on the outside after starting as a freshman there a year ago. The 5-8 sophomore is hitting .327 in Dorsey's 5-1 offense and has 97 kills so far and 88 digs. Middle hitter Katie Dulek, a 6-1 senior, is hitting .405 at this point in the season and has been credited with 76 kills, 33 blocks and 28 digs.

Although she wasn't considered a starter a year ago, Annie Reilly spent nearly as much time out on the court as Dorsey's four returning starters. The 5-9 senior outside hitter has swatted 116 kills and is hitting .315 for Dorsey this season. Reilly has also been credited with 30 service aces and 128 digs on the year.

Seniors Dallas Gardner and Kayla Guyot join the starting lineup for the first time this season and have fit in just fine for Dorsey. Gardner, a 5-9 right side hitter, is an all around performer having knocked down 47 kills and picked up 38 digs as well as claiming credit for 33 set assists and 18 service aces.

Guyot, a 5-11 middle blocker, has chalked up 81 kills in 2011, and has 10 digs and 28 blocks to her name. Sophomore middle blocker Brianna Lewis and junior defensive specialist Emily Tripp have also earned some playing time this season

Although really tall athletes don't often grace her roster, Dorsey said that St. James Academy's goals always remain the same.

"Obviously we're going to try and win state again," Dorsey said. "As a high school team I think that's what you want to do is win state. We're going for the four-peat and we want to be ranked pretty high. We want to be able to compete on a national level.

"It doesn't matter how big you are. We just have to play smart and play the court well. No one should be intimidated by anyone else in this game."