Coach Gwenn Pike is in her 32nd year leading the Bishop Miege volleyball program, and is looking for a fourth-straight Kansas title.
Photo by Dean Backes
Outside hitter
Anna Church was named to the EKL's second team in 2010 and joined Workman on the State Volleyball Tournament's All-Tournament Team. The 5-7 senior was named to the KVA's second team all-state squad after drilling 287 kills a year ago. She hit at a .292 clip as a junior and contributed 288 digs, 30 stuff blocks and 28 service aces.
Senior
Lindsay Zych dug out 387 balls a year ago. The 5-6 Libero was an honorable mention selection on the All-EKL squad in 2010.
Kali Eaken returns at setter after earning honorable mention all-league honors. The 5-8 sophomore was credited with 18 service aces, 19 stuff blocks, 163 digs and 18 set assists.
Junior defensive specialist AubreyRumore is part of the younger group ofplayers that looks to continue BishopMiege's success.
Photo by Dean Backes
The other two starting spots are being filled by 5-7 sophomore middle hitter
Anisa Moore and 5-8 senior outside hitter
Leah Starks. Pike's top newcomers are
Becky Cazares and
Aubrey Rumore, both 5-6 junior defensive specialists, and 5-9 senior setter
Morgan Campanelli.
"I think we have a lot of heart," Workman said. "We have a good mix of young girls and experience. We have a lot of competitors on this team, aggressive and intense players, that love to play volleyball. This year we're really, really, really close and we're staying together. Everybody likes competing together and we all want to fight for each other so it's a good team atmosphere."
As is usually the case at Bishop Miege, Workman points to winning the state championship as the ultimate long-term goal of Pike's 32nd Stag squad. But at this point in the season, the defending EKL and Blue Valley North Stateline Showdown champions are hard at work trying to get a little better with each match they play.
As Bishop Miege takes the court this season, Workman hopes Stag opponents will have as much respect for her play and the play of her teammates as Bishop Miege will have for the team on the other side of the net.
"I'd hope they think of us as a team that never gives up," she said. "As a team that is going to go for every ball. And that the balls that they don't think we are going to get – we will pick them up. We're a team that will fight until the end."
Pike (1,056-199) prepares her Stag squads for the postseason by putting them through a grueling schedule. Besides battling the typical EKL slate, the Stags are preparing to compete in several highly competitive tournaments again this fall.
Last weekend the Stags went 5-1 at the Mo-Kan Tournament with wins over Missouri Class 4 third-ranked Blue Springs South (6-2) and Kansas Class 5A second-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), which is 9-2.
Pike isn't interested in trading a loss or two for a softer schedule.
"It's hard, it's stressful and if you have injuries it's very difficult, so you have to hope for the best," Pike said. "If things don't go well you just have to pick it up. It's part of the game. It is nice not to play a strong schedule all of the time, but it is the way it is, so I don't dwell on it."
While some coaches talk about peaking at the right time, Pike is more concerned with Stag players competing at a high level at all times.
"I've never looked at it as peaking at the right time," she said. "I look at it as we can always be a better volleyball team the next time we step on the court. So in that respect you never reach that peak until it's all over, and when it's all over you want it to be in the championship game and come out victorious. That's when you can say, ‘Yup, we peaked at the right time.'"
