Goals remain high for Wagoner, Bird, new-look Clarinda volleyball team
The Clarinda volleyball team is ready to pick up right where last year’s team left off, despite losing a big senior class.
The Cardinals return just two athletes that played all the way around in junior outside hitter Miley Wagoner and setter Ellery Bird and one more that saw significant time in sophomore Aylah Johnson, who lined up on the right side last year but is likely to move to the middle this fall.
Clarinda sophomore Ellery Bird (left) and junior Miley Wagoner (right) return to lead this year’s Clarinda volleyball team. The Cardinals may have a lot of new faces this season but are expecting to enjoy a lot of success.
“We have a lot of new faces for sure,” Wagoner said, “and we’re a very young team. But everyone works really hard and we’re all bringing our whole effort. We’re learning a lot, but I think the biggest thing is confidence. We have a lot of depth on our team this year and I think we’re going to be pretty good.”
Most of the athletes stepping into much bigger roles on this season’s team are sophomores, and for Bird that means playing with girls she’s grown up with.
“I’m really excited to get to play with them again,” Bird said. “I feel like they’re going to do some big things this season, and it’s always been really fun playing with them. I’m really excited to do it on a more competitive level. It’s going to be a fun season.”
Bird admits that this team looks a lot different than last season, but they are going to keep playing the style of volleyball that Clarinda has brought to the court the last two seasons, when they won a combined 58 matches and advanced to a regional final both years.
“We’re trying to keep being aggressive,” Bird said, “and I think we’ll be fine. I feel like it’s going to be a fun season. We have a very fun and outgoing team, so expect a lot of smiles and laughs.”
That style of play is one that head coach Jess Hanafan wants to see, as she starts her sixth season in leading the program. At the end of last season, Hanafan wasn’t sure what she had going into this season and admitted at the time that her team may take a step back with the loss of the senior class, but she doesn’t feel that’s the case anymore.
“This group learned from last year’s players,” Hanafan said. “They played with them last year and have stepped into the role of being big and swinging hard. They have a lot of confidence and a good drive and work ethic and that’s exactly what they are showing right now. I don’t feel we’re taking any steps backwards.”
Hanafan said while there are still some spots in the lineup up in the air, Johnson is going to be one to watch this season.
“We moved her to the middle because we had to fill a lot of positions,” Hanafan said on Johnson. “She’s probably our most aggressive player at the net and maybe the most aggressive player I have seen come through Clarinda. The way she approaches the ball and swings, the girls are scared of her.”
Johnson is naturally an outside hitter and is simply a good athlete, something Hanafan says her roster is full of this season.
While there are a lot of athletes stepping into bigger and different roles on the court this season for the Cardinals, Bird and Wagoner are playing right where they were last year. Both say, however, they have taken steps forward in their game this season.
“I’m honestly more excited,” Bird said. “I feel like a lot more people know my name this year and I’m excited to go play and make a bigger impact this season.”
“There is definitely another step,” Wagoner added when asked about her game after leading the Cardinals in kills last season. “I’m looking to improve every day. Freshman year was a lot of learning. Sophomore year, I put more into the game and this year is just about showcasing that and trusting my setter and my team.”
Goals are high for the Cardinals in a new-look Hawkeye 10 Conference. Wagoner feels they can compete against anybody in the conference and has high goals for another big season.
The Cardinals open the season with a Hawkeye 10 Conference road test Tuesday, Sept. 1, against Harlan. They don’t play at home until Denison comes to town two weeks later. Hawkeye 10 newcomer Carroll, along with St. Albert and Glenwood also make the trip to Clarinda for conference matches later in the season.
Related
Clarinda volleyball highlights from Thursday, Oct. 23, regional semifinal win over Creston.
