New Perry volleyball head coach John Fulton inherits a team that must replace three starting seniors off an 8-26 season that was marked by an 0-7 trip through the Raccoon River Conference.
“We know we have challenges ahead of us, but we are not backing down,” Fulton said of the Jayettes. “We have 32 girls out, including 13 freshmen, and that says to me the girls love playing volleyball and are confident we can have success.”
The play of seniors Sid Vancil, Syd Guerra, Jo Diw and Isabel Saemisch will determine the level of success Perry reaches this season, Fulton said.
“I like our senior leadership,” Fulton said. “They enjoy playing together and our team chemistry is as good as I have seen it. I am excited to see what we can do.”
Fulton was a varsity assistant coach last year and has brought in a pair of assistants with collegiate playing experience in Paige Wilken (Central College) and McKenzie Felt (Indian Hills CC and Central Missouri).
“I like to run the offense through the middle, but to do so we absolutely must pass the ball better,” Fulton said. “Our serve-receive really hurt us last year, and we struggled to get into an offense and surrendered a lot of free balls, which we cannot do. I want us to play a little faster, and that, too, is all about the passing.”
Guerra returns at libero, where she made 310 digs last season while serving 180-of-192 (.938) with 12 aces. Vancil will again set the ball, having produced 382 assists as a junior while serving 233-246-24 (.947).
Saemisch had 42 kills in limited varsity action but will be counted on to help support Diw, who whacked 244 kills and was 163-198-28 (.823) behind the line.
Junior Adriana Eastman (61-74-8) will play outside hitter opposite Diw, with junior Gabby West spelling Saemisch in the middle. Sophomore Magley Orellana returns for a second varsity season as a back row defensive specialist.
Mackenzie Ayers, a junior, and Jaqueline Guardado will be in the varsity mix, as will junior Stephanie Garcia, sophomore Cassidy Heck and freshman Quinn Whiton.
